Siddhis -A unique Afro-Indian community at the Gir Forest in India
Within the sanctuary area of Gir in the villages of Sirwan and Jamburi, lives a Negroid population of about seven hundred individuals scattered in sixty to seventy clusters or huts. They are descendants of East and Central African Bantu tribes. Migrants to India, they proudly believe that the Gir protected area is their motherland and the resident Lions, their personal possession and pride.
They have been dwelling in Junagadh since times immemorial. Historical records suggest that they were brought to Junagarh as early as one thousand three hundred ninety-one years after Christ.
Some records suggest that the influx started as early as the 12th Century, long before the Nawabs thought of conserving the Lion.
They have adapted totally to the Gujarati Life styles. The population of Siddhis in India is about Sixty thousand with about ten thousand in Gujarat.
These Siddhis are extremely poor and live in unhygienic conditions. They do not engage in inter racial marriages and are very sensitive on the purity of their race.
The have been declared as Scheduled tribes in India. A majority of Siddhis are non-vegetarian and consume buffalo meat, eggs, fish, fowls and goat. Bajri and Rice are their staple food. They abstain from eating beef.
While leaving Africa the Siddhis carried with them the extremely rich musical traditions. They have contributed greatly to the art, culture, architecture and sports in India.
They are famous for their ethnic music and dance. The Dhamal dance is one famous dance form which is derived from the African Ngoma drumming tradition. Traditionally women do not take part in this dance.
The Dance resembles the legendry Zulu dance and is rooted in old hunting celebrations and symbolizes vigour, passion, strength, victory, community strength and the shared joy of overcoming hardship together.
The performers dress in their traditional attire and are accompanied by musical instruments and folk songs. They paint their bodies variously. The Siddhis perform this dance during their wedding, religious and other auspicious occasions.
©Srimaa Communication
Credits- Dr. Yashpal Singh, Mrs. Neena Singh, Mr. Rajesh Bedi and Mr. Manoj Kumar Yadav