Pawra

The Pawra or Pawara tribe lives in the adjoining regions of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra, with a major population concentrated in the Khandesh region. They are found in the Dhadgaon, Shahada, Taloda, and Akkalkuwa tehsils of Nandurbar district, as well as in the Jalgaon district. ^{[1] [2]}

The Pawara tribe has distinct customs, a unique social structure, and a different language compared to other tribes. Their economic activities are closely tied to the Satpura mountains. The social administration of the tribe is overseen by the head of the village society. The Bhil Pawaras, or Pavaras, are a subtribe of the Bhils found in Khandesh, and are also known as Pávra Bhils, Pávra Náiks, and Pávra Kolis. ^[3] They celebrate three main festivals: Indiraja, Girhon Mata, and Shimga (or Holi). ^{[4] [5] [6] [7]}

References

1. Reginald Edward Enthoven The Tribes and Castes of Bombay Volume 1 - Page 175 republished 1990 "PAVRAS are chiefly found in Akráni(Dhadgoan) and parts of Taloda and Shahada in Nandurbar district in khandesh region. They deny that they are Bhils and ..."
2. V. Raghaviah Tribal Revolts 1971 p 189 "West Khandesh has a thousand Bhil villages, situated northwest of Tapti river with a population of more than five lakhs . They are divided into two sub - divisions, ( 1 ) Konkani Bhils and ( 2 ) Pawra Bhils . While the latter stay in the Satpura ..."
3. Reginald Edward Enthoven The Tribes and Castes of Bombay Volume 1 - Page 175 republished 1990 "PAVRAS are chiefly found in Akráni(Dhadgoan) and parts of Taloda and Shahada in Nandurbar district in khandesh region. They are called Pávra Bhils, Pávra Náiks and Pávra Kolis indifferently, but they are more like Konkan sea Kolis than Bhils . They deny that they are Bhils and ..."
4. A. K. Prasad The Bhils of Khandesh: Under the British East India Company 1991 · p 84 "Pavras had three chief festivals — Indraja, Divali, Navay, Babdev (Ganvdev) and Holi. Indraja was held in honour of Indra . ... Divali, sometimes called ' Nagdivali ', was a yearly festival celebrated in the month of Paush ( January ) on different dates "
5. Robin D. Tribhuwan, Karen Sherry Health, Medicine, and Nutrition of the Tribals 2004 p26 "This section focuses on the health beliefs and practices of the Bhils and Pawras of Lakkadkot . Lakkadkot is geographically situated towards the northeast of Shahade Tahsil, Taloda ITDP .
6. V. Raghaviah Tribal Revolts 1971 p 189 "West Khandesh has a thousand Bhil villages, situated northwest of Tapti river with a population of more than five lakhs . They are divided into two sub - divisions, ( 1 ) Konkani Bhils and ( 2 ) Pawra Bhils . While the latter stay in the Satpura ..."
7. Amrita Basu Two Faces of Protest: Contrasting Modes of Women's Activism · 1994 p 197 "There are two adivasi communities in the village : the Bhils, who constitute 83 percent of the population; and the slightly higher status, wealthier Pawras, who comprise 17 percent of the population majority Pawara population lived in Nandurbar district and Shirpur block of Dhule. ."