Bhil

An ethnic group in W India stretching from Rajasthan to Maharashtra; mostly agriculturalists. They have adopted kinship patterns and features of Hinduism from their Hindu neighbours, but some are Muslim.

Bhils are a scheduled tribe in the states of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan in western and central India, as well as in Tripura in far-eastern India, on the border with Bangladesh.

Bhils (Urdu: بھیل)) are also settled in Tharparkar district of Sindh in Pakistan.

The ghoomar dance is one well-known aspect of Bhil culture.

In feudal and colonial times, many Bhil were employed by the ruling Rajput in various capacities, e.g.