American Journal of Ethnomedicine, 2016, Vol. 3, No. 1 ISSN: 2348-9502 Available online at http://www.ajethno.com © American Journal of Ethnomedicine Ritual Plants Used by Indigenous and Ethnic Societies of District Banswara (South Rajasthan), India Shafkat Rana1, Dilip Kumar Sharma*2 and PP Paliwal1 1P.G. Department of Botany, S.G.G. Government College, Banswara-327001 Rajasthan, India 2Vardhaman Mahaveer Open University, Kota, Rajasthan, India *Corresponding author e-mail: [email protected] ABSTRACT Rajasthan is one of the largest states located in the North-western part of India. The southern part of Rajasthan state comprises of a large population of tribal communities belonging to various ethnic groups. The tribal community believe that some Gods and deities can be welcomed by some special plants or their parts. So they conserve some plant species due to the traditional ritual ceremonies. These forest dwellers live in forests and possess a vast knowledge on various aspects of plants. An extensive survey of a few tehsils of Banswara was documented to the traditional knowledge of plants used by tribal communities. Tribals like Ninama, Nanoma, Damor, Garasia, Bhagora, Charpota, Singada and Katara are residing in the area. These people have strong traditions, cultural activities, beliefs, taboos, totems, performing religious rituals and valuable information about properties and medicinal uses of plants. Different parts of plant (roots, stem, leaves, bark, fruits, seeds, bulb, etc.) or the whole plant/herb is used for the said purpose of rituals and ceremonies. In this study deals with the documents of 36 plant species used by the rural people of South Rajasthan in ritual ceremonies are reported. Out of 36 plants studied, 31 species belonging to dicotyledons and 05 to monocotyledons, under 32 genera being used traditionally by the tribals. Keywords- Ethnobotany, Indigenous knowledge, Ritual ceremonies, Tribals of Banswara, Natural conservation, Southern Rajasthan. INTRODUCTION about 15000-20000 plants have good medicinal value. However, only 7000-7500 India is one of the important species are used for their medicinal values biodiversity centers with presence of over by traditional communities1. India is a 45000 different plant species. Of these, country with the strongest traditions of Page 26 www.ajethno.com American Journal of Ethnomedicine ________________________________________ ISSN: 2348-9502 conservation of nature and land of diverse nature. These tribes move around the forest natural resources. Since time immemorial, for their day-to-day requirements, cultural conservation of natural resources has been activities, beliefs, taboos, totems and an integral aspect of many indigenous performing religious rituals. With this communities all over the world. India has realisation, the recent upsurge of interests in suffered an almost unabated devastation of studying rituals or medicinal plants. its natural biological heritage and much of A significant contribution has been what remains has been preserved through made by several workers on the ethno- the ages because of a host of conservation- biology from various part of world viz. oriented socio-cultural and religious Meghalaya15, Arunachal Pradesh16, traditions. These tribes move around the Bahrain17, Nepal18, Biligiri Rangan Hills19, 20 forest for their day-to-day requirements, including India21. In Rajasthan Ethno- cultural activities, beliefs, taboos, totems botanical studies have been carried out by and performing religious rituals. These several scientists from different parts of the people are largely dependent on their state namely Alwar22, Mt Abu23, Udaipur24, traditional system for their information is 25, Eastern Rajasthan26, Aravalli hills of passed on from generation to generation Rajasthan27 and Hadoti Plateau SE Rajasthan through the word of mouth. India has 28. suffered an almost unabated devastation of its natural biological heritage and remains STUDY AREA conservation-oriented socio-cultural and religious traditions. Rajasthan is one of the largest states The significant tradition of nature located in the Northwestern part of India conservation is to dedicating patches of (Figure 1). Geographically, it lies between forests or groves to some deities and spirits 23º3' to 30º12' longitudes and 69º30' to by tribal and rural peoples or sometimes 78º17' latitudes. Southern part of Rajasthan conservation of the rituals. The indigenous comprising Banswara, Chittorgarh, people are illiterate but have scrupulously Dungarpur and Udaipur districts is the tribal nurtured their traditional customs, folklores, belt. The study area, Banswara district is ceremonies and a way of forest life through located in southern Rajasthan with an area folk beliefs. Since the Vedic times, the of 5,037 square kilometres (1,945 sq mile) human race has used various plants for ritual in between 23.11° N to 23.56° N latitudes purposes. The tribals of South Rajasthan and 73.58° E to 74.49° E longitudes (Figure believe that certain plants have good omen 2). characters and some others are ominous. As The region represents a rugged such, the good omen plants are scared, used terrain undulated by short ridges at west. in worship and offered to God. They also The eastern part of the district is occupied use them in their social ceremonies to keep by flat-topped hills of the Deccan trap. The themselves fit and prosperous. Very little district has the southern end of the Aravali work has been done on such plants in district Mountains, the drainage system belongs to Banswara of South Rajasthan. However, the Mahi river and its main tributaries are ethno-botanical and ethno-medicinal aspects Anas, Chap, Erav, Hiran and Kagdi. have drawn the attention of several workers Banswara has plenty of rainfall and on the in South Rajasthan2-14. The Banswara is well whole has a salubrious climate. Banswara known for its scenic beauty, high tribal has high varied physiographic from plateau density, fascinating culture and tradition lands to hilly tracts. Due to heavy rainfall based on intricate relationship with the (averaging around 1000 mm per annum) Page 27 American Journal of Ethnomedicine ________________________________________ ISSN: 2348-9502 with plenty of humidity, it becomes one of Indian Desert23, Flora of North East the richest spot for the growth of varied Rajasthan30, Flora of Upper Gangetic Plain vegetation includes variety of trees, shrubs, and the Adjacent Siwalic and Sub Himalaya herbs, climbers and grasses. The subtropical Tract31. The verification and authentification evergreen forest of Banswara consists of of collected data were made in the light of mixed tree growth with Tectona grandis L. standard literature32, 33. In the course f. nom cons. as a predominant species investigation two years, the three sacred followed by Anogeissus latifolia (Rxb. ex groves were surveyed. Identification of DC.) Wall. Ex Guill & Perr., Diospyros plants was done on the basis of for local melanoxylon L. Roxb., Madhuca indica J.F. uses, a cross discussion of tribals were Gmelin, Dendrocalamus strictus (Roxb.) interviewed and cross interviewed for final Nees.and Ficus religiosa L. in this region. conclusion of study. On account of the district’s unique location character, an overwhelming DISCUSSION majority of tribals, the forest-fringe villages not only depend on the surrounding In the present study of district medicinal plants for home remedies but also Banswara (Rajasthan) documented of 36 protect these plants through village sacred plant species used by the rural people in groves and uses in rituals. ritual ceremonies are reported. Out of 36 plants studied, 31 species belonging to METHODOLOGY dicotyledons and 05 to monocotyledons, under 32 genera being used traditionally by The proposed study was based on the tribals (Table 1). To prevent the personal interviews of various groups like damaging habitat fast regenerative capacity village headman, spiritual leader, priest; is needed. So there a great need to in dulge teachers etc. of tehsil Ghatol, Bagidora, in the doctrine of development through Kushalgarh, Garhi, Anandpuri and Aspur conservation which will lead to development (District Banswara and Dungarpur) who without causing any harm to the resources could give correct information and mode of thus leading to conservation35. Many plants uses. The field tours for study were made at species are utilised by Tribals in different regular intervals in years 2011–2013 in Traditional Magico-religious. Plants ways order to cover the tribal areas in different but this does not affect their conservational seasons to collect the maximum information aspects12,13,35-37. Like all other indigenous at the time of marriage ceremonies, local tribal communities, tribes of Banswara fairs at Ghotia Amba, VEneneshwar and Ninama, Damor, Garasia, Bhagora, Local HAATS. The data obtained in local Katarahavea close association with nature language (Baagri) collected through and have developed an indigenous questionnaire from different localities and knowledge of environmental protection as villages was compared and cross linked so well as biodiversity conservation. Various as to ascertain their validity and integrity. cultural and religious rites and rituals are During the study, daily activities were also performed except for medicinal closely observed and interpersonal contacts purpose; none of the plant species is harmed on different rituals ceremonies were in any way38, 39. It was observed in this study established by