About Mahadev Koli Tribe:
- Mahadev Koli or Mahadeo Koli are a subcaste of the Koli community of the Maharashtra and Goa states of India.
- They derive their name from their god, Mahadev, and live in the Mahadev hills of Maharashtra, mostly in the Pune, Ahmednagar, and Nasik districts.
- They are classified as a Schedule Tribe.
- They speak Marathi and use the Devanagari script.
- There are twenty-four exogamous clans among the Mahadev Koli, and they use their clan’s names as their surnames.
- They resemble the Kunbi and the Maratha communities in matters of dress and appearance. They live in nuclear families.
- Occupation:
- Traditionally hunter-gatherers and warriors, the community today is largely engaged in agriculture.
- Families cultivate rice, finger millet, barnyard millet, and wheat while also rearing livestock and producing dairy products.
- Beliefs:
- Their primary religion is Folk Hinduism.
- Members of each clan have their own deity.
- They possess extensive knowledge of local flora.
- Tanaji Malusare, a revered general in Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s army, hailed from this community. His valor in the Battle of Sinhagad is legendary.
