(Today I begin a month‑long virtual tour across India, exploring places known for unusual customs, practices, and mysterious phenomena. Each day of the month, except the four Sundays, I will share a blog post about one of these remarkable sites. Here is the first of 26 posts.)
Claiming descent from the "Asuras" mentioned in ancient Sanskrit literature, they speak Asur (or Asuri), a language belonging to the Munda family that is currently listed as an endangered language by UNESCO.
(Asuras are a class of powerful, demigods known for their opposition to the gods.)
DURGA PUJA
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| A cultural troupe of the Asur community. Image courtesy: The Indian Express |
One of the most distinct cultural traits of the Asur people is their perspective on Durga Puja.
Durga Puja is a major 10-day Hindu festival celebrated in September-October, honouring Goddess Durga’s victory over the demon Mahishasura, symbolising the triumph of good over evil.
While much of India celebrates this festival, the Asur community mourns during this period. This practice stems from their belief that Mahishasura was their benevolent ancestor.
The former chief minister of Jharkhand Shibu Soren of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha party opposed the burning of effigy of Raavan, a very common practice on Dasara (the 10th day of the festival) all across India, and he refused to take part in programmes.
IRON-SMELTERS
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| Sushma Asur, a poet. Outlook |
Traditionally, the Asur were primitive iron-smelters, using indigenous furnaces to create high-quality metal, a craft they associated with fertility and ancient wisdom. Historically, they also engaged in hunting, gathering, and shifting agriculture. However, modern industrialization and the loss of forest control have forced a shift in their economy. Today, the vast majority are classified as cultivators.
Due to bauxite mining on their ancestral lands, many community members have also transitioned into working as daily wage labourers in the mining sector.
COUNTER-NARRATIVE
Asur's version of history is a fascinating "counter-narrative" passed down through oral traditions. By choosing to remember their hero while the world cheers his downfall, the Asurs offer a rare, unusual glimpse into the diversity of Indian belief.
(Information sources: International Journal for Multidisciplinary Research, Asur Adivasi Wisdom Akhra, India Today, Wikipedia)
(This post is part of the A to Z Challenge and Blogchatter A2Z 2026)
Wow! I truly did not know this! I've never heard of the Asur people. They mourn during the Durga Puja? There's so much to learn here this month! Great post, Pradeep!
ReplyDeleteI wonder about their claim to be the first to make iron, but someone had to do it.
ReplyDeleteHari OM
ReplyDeleteFascinating - I was sadly unaware of the Asur till now - think you for this fine opening to alphabet month! YAM xx
I look forward to more of your accounts of the diversity that is India - and the counternarrative of the Asur was a great place to start, Pradeep
ReplyDeleteAndrew from https://how-would-you-know.com/all-you-need-to-know-about-weaving/
Is it possible that the Indo-Aryan people took the name of their mythical Asuras from this tribe?
ReplyDeleteWe need to celebrate more good over evil. Good luck with more posts.
ReplyDeleteBarbie
Wow! That was actually really fascinating. I haven't heard of this group before.
ReplyDeleteApril is the ideal time to refresh goals and turn small daily actions into major wins, utilizing the season's new energy for growth.
“Every day is a chance to begin again. Don’t focus on the failures of yesterday, start today with positive thoughts and expectations.” ― Catherine Pulsifer
J (he/him 👨🏽 or 🧑🏽 they/them) @JLenniDorner ~ Speculative Fiction & Reference Author and Co-host of the April Blogging #AtoZChallenge international blog hop
The tradition of some people mourning the death of an Asura is not known to many.
ReplyDeleteWow! Fascinating to learn about this community! I also think that the Zoroastrians from Central Asia also claim this lineage. Since the 'sa' sound in Indian languages, specifically Sanskrit, becomes the 'ha' sound in Zoroastrian tongue, Ahura is actually Asura just like Hindu is the river Indus or Sindhu.
ReplyDeleteTheir mythology is very similar to ours, except that the Asuras are the good people and Devas are the villains!
Thank you for this, Pradeep. The heritage we have inherited is so rich and vast! Thank you for reminding us of the wealth we've inherited.
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to this series.
A cracker of the first post. I did not know about Asurs except for mythology.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to all your series.
Kudos! Best wishes
How fascinating is this piece of history and mythology, that continues to be practised. Thank you for enlightening us. Else we would have never known.
ReplyDeleteAnimal & Nature Communication <a href="https://natashamusing.com/2026/04/a-is-for-animal-nature-communication-atozchallenge/”>NatashaMusing</a>
New information…. Interesting too! Thank you and Keep writing!
ReplyDeleteI appreciate learning about the Asur. Sounds like they have a lot of challenges going for their population.
ReplyDeleteSo many groups that show the opposing views. I hope that their language doesn't disappear.
ReplyDeleteRead somewhere when they used to smelt iron, women sang songs to the furnace, treating it like a pregnant mother to “give birth” to good iron.
ReplyDeleteThat's interesting. I'm trying to think how on of the Christian holidays could be celebrated in reverse, so to speak.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fascinating start to your series! The Asur community’s story beautifully reveals how diverse cultural memory and belief can be within India. Looking forward to discovering more such remarkable traditions through your upcoming posts!
ReplyDeleteOoh, this is fascinating! I knew the story, but not the counternarrative. It's kinda like when I found out that Attila the Hun, who is a hero in our legends, is seen as a villain in other countries...
ReplyDeleteAlso, I looked up the poet, I wish there was an English translation of her book!
The Multicolored Diary
I enjoyed this first post, Pradeep. India's peoples certainly are diverse. I hadn't heard of the Asurs, and love their counter-narrative of Durga Puja. Sad that they, like so many indigenous peoples, have been displaced from their lands by mining. -J
ReplyDeleteThis was so fascinating and interesting
ReplyDeleteI greatly appreciate your cultural insights. Happy Blogging!
ReplyDeleteThis is an interesting look at a unique community and how their beliefs differ from the mainstream – it makes your readers think about who gets to tell the stories! All the best.
ReplyDeleteThat is really interesting to have a culture with a counter-narrative. Fascinating! I hope they are able to preserve their language and cultural traditions.
ReplyDeletehttps://nydamprintsblackandwhite.blogspot.com/2026/03/a-is-for-apotropaic.html
Interesting to know about the Asura's whereabouts. Now they have become cultivators and slowly they will merge with others.
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