Tribal

The tribal-society of India is the potpourri of diverse ethnicity, values and viewpoints that bond the people together.  These tribal societies embrace the faction of people who understand the meaning of living together and join hands to work together to achieve any shared interest to cater to the benefits of their society. Every society has its own set of rules with respect to business and trade.

The rituals and festivals practiced by the tribal groups are still being followed, respected and nurtured since the distant past to the present day. The tribal people are not only religious but overtly superstitious as well. Every aspect of their life revolving the yearly actions is through and through linked with the numerous rituals and religious convictions. Another integral part of the festivals and ceremonies is their affluent and diverse tradition of music and dance which they have retained and gracefully maintained since ages. They exhibit their emotions through the medium of music – their happiness and pathos, their cravings and yearnings, their passion and lifestyle, their fondness for nature and outlook towards the human society. Although the art of performing the songs and dances differ from one clan to another, yet certain features are generally familiar to all. The tribal dances are complemented with rhythmic beats of drum-beats, clapping of hands (by the dancers/spectators) or a diminutive arrangement of musical instruments. The tribal people are supposed to be born poets or musicians. They compose and sing their own melodious numbers to pour out their heart’s content.  The tribal people get wings to their flight of fantasy through the medium of art and craft. Their rich handicrafts help one to envisage their artistic susceptibility and creative nature. It gives an insight to their absolute sense of various geometrical measurements and attractive colour combinations. They are equally expert in weaving clothes on looms, making embroidery work or crafting hand made jewelleries.

Tribal Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh the 24th state of the Indian Union is circumscribed by Bhutan to the west, Myanmar to the east, China to the north and north-east and the plains of Assam to the south. Arunachal Pradesh is acknowledged to be one of the most splendid, variegated and multilingual tribal areas of the world. There are 26 major tribes and a number of sub tribes living in the state. Most of these communities are ethically similar but their geographical isolation from each other has brought amongst them certain distinctive characteristics in language, dress and customs.

The first group of people is the Monpas and the Sherdukpens of Tawang and West Kameng district. The second group of people Adis, Akas, Apatanis, Bangnis, Nishings, Mishmis, Mijis, Tangsas, etc. The third group comprises of Noctes and Wanchos, adjoining Nagaland in the Tirap district

Tribal Rajasthan
Rajasthan is home to many tribes who have very interesting history of origin, customs and social practices. While a few tribes are medieval in their origin, mainly due to events in history, there are a few who date their origin back to one of the oldest prehistoric civilizations in world. All the tribes share common traits which seem to link their past but it is the differences in their costumes and jewellery, their gods and deities and their seasonal fairs and festivals that set one tribal sanctuary apart from another. The veiled existence of Rajasthan original inhabitants certainly isolated them from the main stream, keeping them unaware of the changes. Today, they may be considered a backward people but that does not, in anyway, call for any derogatory interpretations of their primitivism.

Tribal Chhattisgarh
The state of Chhattisgarh shaped at the time when the sixteen Chhattisgarhi speaking southeastern provinces of Madhya Pradesh acquired statehood on November1, 2000. It is supposed to be the tenth largest state of India as per its territory.  The most familiar tribes found in the state are Muria, Baiga, Kamars, Halbas, Gonds, Bhumja, Kawars etc. Out of these, few tribal families like the Gonds have exchanged cultural practices with the local Hindus, whereas on the other hand the orthodox tribes like the Baigas and the Kamars have maintained their originality till date. The state has seen many tribal upheavals from the late 18th century to the initial few decades of the 20th century. The Chhattisgarhi tribal sects take equal interests in dance and music. Few of the popular dance styles common among them are the Panthi, Raut Nacha Karma and Soowa. The traditional folk songs which steal a listener’s heart are Sohas, Pathoni and Bihav. These songs and music are no more restricted to the state’s boundaries, but getting worldwide recognition in the present times. Another factor which brings recognition to the territory is that the women population of Chhattisgarh is meant to be the second highest among the other states of India. Women power is respected and regarded widely throughout the state borders.

Tribal Odisha
Odisha bears the credit of ranking an exclusive position for hosting the largest category of tribal population in the ethnographic map of India. One can hit upon them, more or less, in every part of the state, especially in the hilly or forested areas. However, their lifestyles vary from region to region. The tribes of Odisha are chiefly categorized into three linguistic divisions, namely, (1) Indo-Aryan speakers, (2) Dravidian speakers and (3) Austric speakers. All the three classes enjoy a number of socio-cultural resemblances among them.  The tribes of the state can be categorized into six classes, like the hunters, gatherers and collectors, simple artisans, cattle herders, hill and shifting cultivators, advanced agriculturists and urban factory goers.

All these enhance and strengthen their unity to live and toil in sync. In Orissa there is a fusion of about sixty two tribes which comprise about 22.21% of the total state population. The typical common distinctiveness shared by the tribal societies distinguishes them from the so-called complex or urban societies.