Introduction / History

Meet the Oraon tribe who call themselves Kurukh, by the name taken from their hero-king Karakh. The Oraon used to live south-west of the river Ganga but are now mainly concentrated in Chhotanagpur in Bihar and the adjoining areas of Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal, Tripura, Maharashtra and Assam. A smaller number are in Bhutan.
They speak languages such as Kurukh, Sadri and Hindi which are from the Dravidian family of languages. They write using the Devanagari script. In stature they are short or below medium in height.
Oraon is a large group broken down into smaller segments. One of these is the Kurux.

What Are Their Lives Like?

They are mainly settled cultivators and work as wage laborers and industrial workers. Their staple cereal is rice, supplemented with maize, wheat, Madua and Gondli.
Both men and women consume alcohol, and they also prepare rice beer at home. Generally, men chew tobacco and women smoke the Hookah.
Kurux Oraon have their traditional community council at the village levelheaded by a Mahto. They have a regional council known as the Parha composed of several villages.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Their main deity is taken as Dharmes, and they also believe in a host of spirits. A priest is invited to perform their life cycle rituals. An Ojiha or mati is specially called to cure diseases by appeasing evil spirits.

What Are Their Needs?

The Kurux Oraon need better medical care.

Prayer Items

Pray the salvation of the Oraon people. Pray that the disciples of Jesus among them may spread the good news to others.
Pray for them to seek Jesus for healing from their sicknesses rather than using methods of witchcraft.
Pray for Oraon men and women to be freed from alcohol and tobacco addiction.

Scripture Prayers for the Oraon, Kurux in Bhutan.

References

India Missions Association - Edited by Philipose Vaidyar, Copyrighted © Used with permission