Important Tribal Groups In India

Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Onge

Traditionally hunter-gatherers

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Andaman Islands

Jarawas

Very little is known about the Jarawas, apart from the fact that they use rafts, live in oval huts and are excellent swimmers.

Jarawas -means "the other people".

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Andhra Pradesh, Orissa

Chenchus

one of the Primitive Tribal Groups that are still dependent on forests and do not cultivate land but hunt for a living

Nagula Chavitha

Arunachal Pradesh

Abors/ Adi

Spinsters wear a 'beyop ‘It is special type of ornament consisting of five to six brass plates rightly fixed under their petticoats

It becomes customary for the aged women of Abor tribes to wear yellow necklaces and spiral earrings

Solung

Arunachal Pradesh

Aptanis

The Indian tribe where the woman must have 'black nose plugs' fitted as rite of passage

Dree and Myoko

Birbhum region in Bengal, Hazaribagh, Purnea in Bihar, Orissa

Santal or Saontal

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Baha Parab “flower festival,

Sohrai harvest festival

Himachal Pradesh

Gaddis

Gaddis belong to the class of the shepherds and their job is to look after goats and sheep

Basakhi / Bishu ,

Patroru Sagrand

Himachal Pradesh

(also in parts of Rajasthan, MP,J& K, Haryana ,Maharastra)

Gujjars

semi-nomadic tribes and their main occupation is herding of goats, sheep and buffaloes.

Celebrate all festivals of national significance

Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal and Orissa.

Kurukh / Oraon

 Efficient, particularly in tea garden works, 

Sarhul and Karma

Kerala

Urali

-Uraali Kurumas are an artisan tribe and their versatile skill in art and handicrafts are well known. They play flute and drum during festivals

-experts in creating household utensils using cane..

Onam, Vishu and Puthar

Madhya Pradesh

Baiga

-The Tiger is Worshipped by the Baiga Tribe that calls it “Jai Baghesur

-Practice endogamy.

-women expertise in body tattoos

- Baiga tribals became India’s first community to get habitat rights

Ras-Nawa

(means ceremonial eating of honey )

Madhya Pradesh(Bastar)

Murias

Traditionally they are economically homogenous and strive to work as a collective. They have mixed-sex dormitories where adolescents are sent to practice premarital sex, sometimes with a single partner and sometimes serially. They have an omnivorous diet, with liquor playing a key role in their society.

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Madhya Pradesh. Also in Bihar, Orissa and A.P.

Gonds

During the British regime in India, Gonds challenged the Britishers in several battles. They also gained control over the Malwa after the decline of the Mughals followed by the Marathas in the year 1690.

Keslapur Jathra

Maharashtra

Warlis

The Warli people are famous for their beautiful and unique style of painting which reflects the close association between human communities and nature

Bhawada ,

Kali Puja 

Manipur

Kuki / Khongjois

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Lawm Se' Neh

Meghalaya

Garo Tribes 

The Garos are one of the few remaining matrilineal societies in the world. The individuals take their clan titles from their mothers. Traditionally, the youngest daughter inherits the property from her mother. Sons leave the parents' house at puberty, and are trained in the village bachelor dormitory

Wangala (also known as Hundred Drums, Wanna, Wanna Rongchuwa) is a harvest festival celebrated

Meghalaya

Khasi people

Khasis follow the unique culture. The property of the Khasis is passed on from the mother to the youngest daughter. Music plays an important part in the life of Khasis.

After marriage the groom comes to live at the brides house.

Nongkrem ,

Shad Suk Mynsiem.

Mizoram

Lushai

Lushai tribes have developed expertise in swimming and hunting. That they are good archers are apparent from the fact that they can nicely handle 'Sairawkher'. It is a bow made locally that is discerned by its utility of clay shots instead of arrows.

Chapcharkut/ Mimkut /

Palkut

North West India.

(Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan )

Bhils (the bow men of Rajasthan)

They form the largest tribe of the whole South Asia

The name Bhil is mentioned in the great epic called Mahabharata and Ramayana. The Bhil women offered ber to Lord Rama, when he was wandering through the jungles of Dhandaka, searching Sita

Baneshwar fair

Sikkim

Lepchas or Rongkip

The lepcha hut is made up of bamboo just five feet above the ground

Tendong Lho Rum Faat

Sikkim, Darjeeling, Nepal and surrounding areas.

 bhutia 

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Tamil Nadu ( Nilgiri Hills)

Badagas / Baduguru

Thundu (a white piece of cloth) forms an integral part of the attire of Badaga women and as a cultural item, is presented to visiting dignitaries as a gesture of good will.

Hethai Habba

TN (Nilgris)

Kotas, also Kothar or Kov

The Kotas are the only artisan tribe of the Nilgiris. They practiced pottery, blacksmithy, goldsmithy, tool making and carpentry. Interestingly, they were also musicians that performed at the ceremonies of the Todas and Badagas.(tribes)

Kambatrayar

Tripura

Chakmas / Daingnet people

The women are experts in weaving. They wear an ankle length cloth around the waist which is also called 'Phinon' and also a 'Khadi' wrapped above the waist as well as silver ornaments.

Bizu

Alphaloni

Buddha Purnima