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The Kora, are of Adivasi of Jharkhand State, are found in the districts of Dumka, Godda, Deoghar, Pakur, Banka, Sahibganj, Dhanbad, Bokaro, Hazaribagh and Chaibasa in the State of Jharkhand. They are probably an offshoot or the Munda Group of tribe. They are regarded as proto-australoid today. But they were Dravidian tribe of earth workers and cultivators in early time. According to oral tradition, the Kora of Santhal Pargana claim to have come from Nagpur (the country of snake). They claimed their descent from the snake. Some claim their origin from Bada Tree. No systematic historical account or the origin and migration of the tribal in Jharkhand are available. But traditions reveal that they came along with Munda, Sauria, Paharia, Santhal, and oraon etc. and settled in different parts of Chotanagpur, Santhal Pargana and Bhagalpur. The Kora speak Mundari, Sadani, Khortha, Patois, Dikuani and Hindi.
The Kora Villages are situated on hills, foothills and plains. The number of house in the village varies from 10 to 30. Their houses are scattered not thickly erected. Houses are made up of mud, wood, branches, bamboo, leaves, grosses. Etc. few houses are mud built and thatched with tiles. The houses are mostly of single room followed by verandah from all sides. The rooms are rectangular in shape. They do not have window. The gate is closed with bamboo or grass tati. The same room is used for cooking, storing and sleeping purposes.
The household utensils of the Kora consists of earthen pots, aluminum utensils, bronze Lota and thali. They have wooden Kathauta. They have rope made articles, baskets, bamboo made fans, winnowing tray, mat, broom etc. Reading and writing materials generally do not appear in their houses.
The Kora religion is characterized by beliefs in different Gods, Goddesses, spirits, ancestors, witch craft and witch doctors.
The believe that trees, plants, bushes, birds, animals, mountain, hill, river, stream, tank, root or drybeo, mud hill etc are enhalsited by the spirits. Sun, moon, stars earth etc are also spirits they offer worship and sacrifice in their homes. They also offer worship and sacrifice in the name of ancestors on the occasion of birth, warriage and death in the family. They offer worship and sacrifice to Kali Mai, Bhagwati mai, Durga mai, etc. They celebrati festivals like Sarhul, Sohrai, Phogu, Dasehra, Ramnawami. They also participate in procession of lord hanumana. They organize Sawa Lakha Puja in the mouth of Baisakhi. This worship is called annual worship.
The worship is held with the help or Baiga Priest and the village head Mahato. The sacrifice or goat, chick, her, duck, egg, pigeon, etc. is made on the occasion of worship. Vermillion, sunfried rice, flower, colour, turmeric, curd, gur, dhup, agarbati etc. are used for performing worship. The village priest enchants mantras at the time of worship. Mlae member of the community participates in the sacrificialworship. The females participate in davee and singing. The community level worship is organised by collecting funds from each family. The rate of fund is decided in the village Panchayat. In household level worship, worship is organized by the family concerned. The female members also take part in such worship.
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