Pardhans mother tongue is Marati. But they recite Gond mythologies and folk tales in Gondi. Pardhan community is divided into four phratries and they possess similar clans of Gonds. The basic rule of the patron-client relationship of Gonds and Pardhans is that both of them should belong to the same phratry and same clan. The four phratries in Pardhan tribe are Satha Devi (Seven deity group), Saha Devi (Six deity group) Pacha Devi (Five deity group) and Chow Devi (Four deity group). Each phratry is further divided into exogamous clans similar to Gonds.
Monogamy is highly preferred among Pardhans though polygamy is in vogue. They follow the following six types of acquiring mates i.e. marriage by negotiations (Khaja Khobra), marriage by capture (Darun Taktna), marriage by service (Gharjavae Lagan), marriage by intrusion (Seewar Java), marriage by love and elopement (Darun parala or Darun parali) and marriage by exchange (Seelad choding). Widow remarriage is called 'pat' and the widow is to marry younger brother of her deceased husband. If there is no younger brother, she has to marry a man from the same clan of her deceased husband.
Divorce is common among Pardhans and is permitted by the village council 'panch'
Inheritance of property is in male line only. If a man dies without male children, his property goes to the nearest kinsman in male line i.e., brothers or brother's son.
Cross-cousin marriages are customarily celebrated.
The economic conditions of Pardhans were linked with those of their Gond patrons in the past. These economic ties are gradually being disrupted in modern times and they are also becoming settled cultivators as Gonds. They grow Cotton, Jowar, Red gram, Green gram etc. and developing sericulture also. Their staple food is Jowar and they are beef-eaters.
The village level unit of social control among Pardhans is called 'Panch'. It consists of Patel, Mahajan, Devari (Priest), Hawaldar (Messenger), and Karbari (Record Keeper) as its members. The post of Patel and Mahajan are hereditary. |
