Chik Baraik Tribe

Chik Baraik tribes belong to the `proto-anstraloid racial stock`. There is no separate village found for these Chik Baraik tribes. Due to their affectionate and friendly nature, they share space with few of the other tribes of the region. They reside with other castes and tribes in the same villages of the Chik Baraik tribes. Chik Baraik is famous as artisan tribe. This tribal community lives in accord with Oraon, Munda and Kharia. They mainly involve in the occupation of creating cotton threads and clothes. These tribes speak in several languages including Mundari, Sadani and Hindi.

To sustain the livelihood, most of these Chik Baraik tribes have undertaken the jobs of weavers, bird trappers. Quite a handful of tribes have adapted to the profession of agriculturists and daily labourers. Apart from that, the weaving is one of the customary professions that these Chik Baraik tribes have adapted. Both males and females have been busy in performing these works from the dawn to the dusk.

In order to establish better administration and control, the Chik Baraik tribes have their separate Panchayat systems even of the community in which Chikbaraik tribes of the adjoining villages have taken the membership. In the meeting of community Panchayat several cases related to certain issues and problems arising in the community and are being handled with lots of care and concern. The decision taken by these members of the community Panchayat is conformed by all.

They follow the Sarna religion as they worship nature. However, many of the people of this tribe follow Hindu religion nowadays. They have got ardent belief in the supreme deity, better known as Sing Bonga. Devi Mai has also been regarded as their supreme goddess. Other deities whom they believe include Gram Deo, Dhiwar Deo, Pitar Deo, Nag Deo, Bagh Deo, Burheia Dei. It is only very obvious that the festivals and fairs that are an integral part of these Chik Baraik tribes are popularly known as Sarhul, Sohrai, Karma, Nawakhani and so on.

The Chik Baraik tribes prefer to live with other tribes and are very social. They celebrate different festivals and occasions together flaunting the exuberance of their tribal culture and tradition.