SANSKRITIZATION, AND SOCIAL INTEGRATION OF BHUMIJ COMMUNITY IN WEST BENGAL

The Bhumij are a tribal group with a notable presence in West Bengal. Their historical presence has been notable in the areas of Purulia, Bankura, and Jhargram. The Bhumij, inspired by Hinduism and incorporating certain Hindu deities and traditions, also preserve their ancient beliefs. Their principal god is frequently regarded as the Sun God (Sing Bonga), with the veneration of several local deities and spirits within holy woods. Animal sacrifices constitute a component of their ceremonies aimed at placating these deities. Sanskritization and social integration has profoundly impacted the Bhumij population in West Bengal, shaping their religious rituals, social conventions, and language. Social integration is a multifaceted process marked by partial assimilation, enduring social borders, and continuous endeavours for socio-political empowerment to attain a more inclusive and equal status within the state's heterogeneous social structure. The present has pure qualitative study from secondary as well as primary sources. At first, the researcher has collected data from the secondary sources as the researcher wants to seek advice from previous works in his field of study and correlate relevant information obtained from the review of related literatures, tools related experiences. KEY WORDS: Bhumij Community, Sanskritization, Social Integration