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The Kharwar is one of the Adivasi Groups of the Jharkhand State. They are found in the district of Garhawa, Daltonganj, Latehar, Lohardaga, Ranchi., Hazaribagh and Chatra in Jharkhand State. The traditions reveals that they used to Khair grasses for various purposes. That is why, they were known as Kharwar. In course of time, they left the Sone valley settled in old palamau, Ranchi and Hazaribagh districts. Some of them also settled in Rohtasgarh. They are contemporary of Mundari speaking Indian tribles. Revivalistic religions group among the Santhal tribe also call themselves as Kharwar. But they are not Kharwar tribe. They are Santhal tribe for all practical purposes. The Kharwar Tribes were living the Palamau before the arrival of the Chero rule. They had extended help to the Chero chiefs and were rewarded by the Jagirs. The Chero trace their descent from the Suryavanshi Kshatriya. Racially they belong to Proto-anstraloid and linguistically to Dravidian group.
The religion of the Kharwar presents a mixture of tribal and Hindu religion. They have Baiga priest as well as Brahman priest. Some of them are also followers of Islam, Christianity, Jainism and Buddhism. Their main Goods and Goddesses are Sinbonga, Goddess Lakshmi, Bhagwati, Durga, hanumana, Gram Bonga, Dihwar Bonga, etc. they celebrate festivals like chhatha, Sarhul durga Puja, Diwali, Jitia, Sohrai, Nawakhani, Phagu and Ramnawami.
They also believe in ancestral spirits, Bhuta-Preta and witch craft. They offer ancestral worship at the time of birth, marriage and death or whenever, they appear in dream. Bhuta-Preta are driven out by witch-doctor. They offer sacrifices in the name sof Gods and spirits. Sacrifice of he-goat, he-sheep, cock, duck, pigeon and egg is made to please the spirits with the help of the Baiga priest. The offering of Khir, Puri, pakwan is made with help of the Brahman priest. They perform dance at the time of worship and festival. They also do a number of Totaka to neutralise the attack of evil spirits, Bhuta-Preta and witchcraft. They also observe a number of taboos for the well being of the family members.
The economic activities of the Kharwar have been agriculture and wage earning. Previously, they were landlords and Zamindars. But due to their extravagant nature, they have turned into poor. Now agriculture is the main means of their stay. Each family owns homestead land, agricultural land, cattleshed and agricultural implements like Jham, Kudal, Khurapi, Plough, Juath, henga etc. they do not hire labour at the time of agriculture. They do it by exchange of labour with other neighbouring families.
The agriculture land is of two types (i) Don, and (ii) Tanr. The Don land has more water storing capacity. In don land cultivation of Jorahan dhan is done which is harvested in the month of Agahan. In Tanr land, cultivation of maize, marua, kurathi, til, arahar etc. is done. They categoriese crops as Vadai, Agahani, Rabi and Garma. Vadai crops are cultivated in Bari land and Tanr land. Agahani crops are cultivated in the month of july and harvested in the month of Agahan (November-December) Rabi crops are cultivated in the month of Agahan and harvested in the month of Chait (April-May). The cultivation of Rabi crops is done in very small areas in the fields situated nearby the village. Garma crops are cultivated in the month of Phagun and harvested in the month of Jayestha (May-June).
They do cultivation by dry and wet method. Vadai crops, Rabi crops and Garma crops are cultivated by dry methods but the Agahani crops particularly field is done by throwing ash, cowdung and domestic wastes in the field. The agricultural processes including manuring, ploughing, sowing, transplanting, weeding, putting fertilizer, watching, harvesting, threshing, winnowing and carrying grains in the house. Manuring is started with the worship of the land. At each stage, worship is done. When the grains come in house, worship is done followed by the festival of Nawakhani.
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