Ranchi: The tribal community, which constitutes nearly 30 percent of Jharkhand’s population, is in a dilemma after meat shops chose to down shutters in the wake of the government’s ban on illegal slaughterhouses.
The khasi, as the goat is known in the adivasi heartland, is intertwined with tribals, who practice animism and sacrifice domestic animals to appease their gods. The offerings, later consumed in feasts, precede auspicious occasions including marriages, sowing and harvesting of crops.
More intriguing are the rural khasi tournaments, where the prize for the winner is not cash or a shield, but a khasi that is later culled and feasted upon by the entire village.
Olympian Manohar Topno said, “I had been watching these hockey/football tournaments in our village in Khunti since I was a 10-year-old and was not allowed to play. But the trophy, which always was a khasi, was a matter of fascination. After the match, the entire village was allowed to feast and this was a major attraction for a poor tribal who could have a rare full meal of khasi-bhaat (rice and mutton).”
Topno, who was part of the Indian hockey team at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, explained as there was no flow of money in the tribal villages, the khasi was convenient as a trophy since the animal (as well as chicken and duck) was reared in almost every tribal household and goats were used to barter paddy and other items.
Not knowing whether the government order will also affect rural Jharkhand, Savitri Purti, a former national hockey player who organised several khasi tournaments, said: “These tournaments were organised to attract more youth towards hockey and football in the villages, but it is not played as frequently as before.”
In the Kurmi Mahato community, which also comprises a sizeable population of the state, the khasi is brought as a gift in marriages or even to families where there has been a death. “The idea is to share the expenditure of the marriage feast where the entire village is invited,” said Sudesh Mahato, former minister and president of All Jharkhand Students Union Party (Ajsu-P).
He too was uncertain how the ban will now affect these practices or even the khasi tournaments.
Villagers who rear goats also sell them to professional traders at the tribal haat bazars. In Palamu and Garhwa districts, these villagers are finding no buyers these days. At a village haat in Pakur on Saturday, one could hardly see anybody selling khasi which along with banda (pork) was available in abundance.
“Illegal trade should certainly be stopped, but in tribal Jharkhand goats, bulls/buffaloes and cocks are essentially sacrificed during festivals,” said Ratan Tirkey, an activist and a member of the Tribal Advisory Committee (TAC).
Giving examples, he said sacrifice of a buffalo was a must during the dasari jatra in rural areas.
Notwithstanding the uncertainty in the rural areas, the tribal community in urban areas are frustrated on finding their traditional dish of mutton vanishing from the meals.
“It will be difficult to switch over to paneer or fish in place of mutton,” said Tirkey.
(The Times of India)