Tribals of India - Indian Tribals Symbols Culture Tribal Customs Art and Heritage

The Bnei Menashe
The Bnei Menashe ("Children of Menasseh") are a group of more than 9,000 people from India's North-Eastern border states of Manipur and Mizoram who claim descent from one of the Lost Tribes of Israel. Linguistically, they are Tibeto-Burmans and belong to the Mizo, Kuki and Chin peoples (the terms are virtually interchangeable). They are called Chin in Burma.

Depending upon their affiliations, each tribe refers to itself as Kuki, Mizo, Zomi or Chin. It is however more common for people to identify themselves by their subtribe, each of which has its own distinct dialect and identity.

The breakaway Judaic group was named Bnei Menashe by Eliyahu Avichail because they believe that the legendary Kuki-Mizo ancestor Manmasi is one and the same with Menasseh, son of Joseph.


Bodos - Tribe Of Assam The Tribes of Assam, are involved in Bodo Movement.....Bodos in their ancient years used to pray their forefathers. Today they have changed significantly - they have accepted Hinduism as their main religion. They practice a Culture known as Bathouism. The plant Siju is taken for the worship as a symbol of Bathou Symbol. For the worship, a clean ground near the home or the courtyard of the home is taken. One pair of Betelnut called Goi betel leaf called pathwi is used as offering. The offering includes rice, milk and sugar. For the Kherai Puja which also happens to be the most important of all Pujas, an altar is placed in the rice field. The Bodos do not practice dowry and caste system as per their rules of Brahma Dharma. The main work of Bodos is tea plantation, silk worm rearing, weaving, pig and poultry farming. They are also good bamboo craftsman. The main festivals of Bodos include Kherai - the colorful function which includes, drumming, singing and dancing (Bagurumba) to the rythmn of the drums. Garja, Hapsa Hatarnai, Awnkham Gwrlwi Janai, Bwisagu and Domashi are the other important festivals. The main cuisines of the Bodos include Narzi, Onla and Oma Bedor.

Bhil - The Archers Bhils - The Archers, are the tribals of Mewar, descandents of original inhabitants of India. The word Bhil is derived from Bil or Vil meaning Bow. The Bhils used to furnish the needs of Prince s of Mewar with bowmen, supplies or by guarding their families. Some famous names of Bhils are Bhim, Bhim Singh Maharana, Bhimisi and Bhindar. All of them have special place in the ancient history of India. Bhils are the tribes of Central India found in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Mahrashtra and Tripura. Out of India they are found in Bangladesh. In colonial times they were employed by the Rajputs as Shikaris and as Warriors. Today there is a Mewar Bhil Corps - the acclaimed Corps of Mewars. They are supposed to be the best archers and also excellent in geographical knowledge. They are the third largest tribes in India after Gonds and Santhals.

Gonds - The Gods People Gondvana - the Mighty Kingdom in the olden days still stands with the ruins of the Kingdom in its sand. From the 15th century to the 18th century, this region called Gondwana was the home to the Gonds. The Gondwana Land gave its name to the present day Africa, South America, Australia, India Sub Continent and Antarctica. The Gonds lost their lives in saving their lands from the then upcoming tribe called the Banjaras. Most of the Gonds describe themselves as hill people or as Koi or Koitur. The inheritors of the Dravidian Culture - the Gonds are the simple tribes with a high thinking of non - egaliriatism. Mainly found in Central India the Gonds preach the Gods path and do agriculture as their main work. Apart from Madhya Pradesh, Gonds can be found in Chattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh and Orissa. They are the largest Tribe in India, South Asia, and perhaps the world with nine million people (out of which four million resides in India). They speak language related to Telgu and Dravidian language. The spoken languages are generalized as Gondi and Hindi. They practice agriculture growing cereals. Herding cattles is also a part of their livelihood.

Hmar - The Christian Tribe Of India Hmar also known as Mhar or Mar are the dwellers of the North Eastern Part of India. Hmars can be found in Meghalaya, Mizoram, Cachar, Meghalaya, Chittagong Hill Tracts and Tripura. Dimasas are supposed to be the aboriginals of the Brahmaputra Valley ascending from the Himalayas with their roots connecting to mainland China. The roots of Hmar find route to the place called Sinlung. Sinlung is the ancestral home of Zonhnathlak. However the location of Sinlung is still a controversy but not the roots of Hmar. Hmars eventually left Sinlung which was once a democratic state. The Hmars belong to the Chin-Kuki-Mizo group of tribes, and are recognised as Scheduled Tribe under the 6th Scheduled of the Constitution of India. They are medium statured usually 5-5.6 ft in height, sturdy, dark, haried, brown eyed and are known for their bravery. India – Manipur, Mizoram, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura have the major chunk of Hmar Tribe People.

Munda - Adivasis Of Jharkhand Mundas are the Adivasis or the Tribals of the Jharkand. They spread over other states like Bihar, West Bengal, Chhatisgarh, and Orissa. Outside India Mundas can be found in Bangladesh. Today there are around two million Munda People. The Mundas are highly respected tribals from the time of pre - independence of India. Birsa Munda , the Munda who turned into a Prophet and was a freedom fighter in the Indian Independence Struggle, is the most respected tribal. At a small age of 20 yrs, Birsa Munda was revered by his people as God. His active participation in the freedom fight disturbed the Britishers so much that they finally caught him at the young age of 25. He died in suspicious circumstances in the Jail of Ranchi in 1900. Even today his contribution to the Independence Of India is recognised with regard. He has been honoured by the Governent Of India.

Orans - The Progressive Tribe The Orans or Oraons are the most progressive tribes of all the tribes found in India. They are the ones who are into education and places like Churches. Kartik Oraon, who was the most educated Oraon, an Indian Congress leader and former state communication minister of India, Albert Ekka, the Paramveer Chakra awardees (Highest Award For Bravery in India), The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Ranchi, Cardinal Telesphore Placidus Toppo, are Oraon. People of this comunity have shown exceptional makes as compared to people of other tribes. Orans speak the language called Kurukh which belongs to the Dravidian Family and is related to the Pahari language ( language of mountains). Kurukh has a special recognition as it is taught in Ranchi University. The Orans have progressed with the time and have shifted to Indian Metro Cities like Kolkatta, Delhi, Mumbai and other smaller cities like Patna, Buvneshwar, Bhopal, Hyderabad, Allahabad and Lucknow.

Gaddis - The Khanabadosh Tribe Gaddis are the Tribes of the Himachal Pradesh, residing in the Dauladher Range. The peculiarity of the Gaddis lie in their Khanabadosh Nature - they are Gypsies in true nature as they travel to the higher pastures along their flocks in the summer season and so are transhumance in their traditional practice. In the earlier years the Ancestors of Gaddis left India during their tough times. Later on with the Chauhan Rajputs Brahman Gaddis descended to the place called Chamba in Himachal Pradesh. From those years, Gaddis and their generations have been living in Chamba along with the flocks. Aside from Chamba, they are also found in Kangra district, near Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh .

Khasis - The Hynniew trep Tribe Hynniew Trep , that is how they like to be called - The Khasis Tribe of Meghalaya, a state in the North Eastern Part of India. The Khasis inhabit the Khasi Hills proper, and the Syntengs, or Pnars, the Jaintia Hills.These people whose literal meaning is " Seven Huts " in Khasi Language, cover about 50 percent of the population of Meghalaya. Khasis are the descendants of Mon-Khmer speakers who migrated probably from Yunnan to Meghalaya. They live in the Jaintia Hills in the state of Meghalaya. West Bengal, Mizoram, Maharashtra, Tripura, TamilNadu, Arunachal Pradesh, Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The sub - divisions of Khasis i.e. the Wars, Khynriams, Pnars and Bhois are not only the territorial groups but each of them acquired different socio-cultural traits. What sets the Khasis Apart from other tribes is that in Khasis the descendents are recognised from Mother and not from Father (Matrilineal Society). As per the Khasi Law and tradition the mother inherits the children and property and not the father. In addition to this a Khasi Women is at liberty to take divorce from her husband as per her will. The Khasis have well defined homelands.

Dimasa - Dim - Fisa - The Tribe From Assam This tribe from the North Eastern India, is a part of the greater Bodo - Kachari group. Dimasas live in the Jatinga Valley in the North Chhachar Hills of Assam. Dimasas are supposed to be the aboriginals of the Brahmaputra Valley ascending from the Himalayas with their roots connection to the Great Hindu Epic Mahabharata. Dimasas have their seats in the city called Dimapur. Lying on the banks of the river Dhansiri , also known as the Brick City , was the ruling Capital of Kacharis - the prominent and powerful race of those times. Dimapur got its name from the Kachari word Di - meaning water, Ma - meaning - big and Pur - meaning City. Apart from Madhya Pradesh, Gonds can be found in Chattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh and Orissa. They are the largest Tribe in India with four million people. They speak language related to Telgu and Dravidian language. The spoken languages are generalized as Gondi and Hindi. They practice agriculture growing cereals. Herding cattles is also a part of their livelihood. The Dimasa Kacharis are distributed in different regions of Assam and Nagaland. The Dimasa Kacharis living in North Chachar Hills appear to have retained much of their traditional tribals more. However, those ones in the in Nagaon district of Assam, the influence of Assamese Culture is very apparent. The Dimasas living in Chachar Hills are highly influenced by the Bengali Culture.

Chenchu - Aboriginal Tribe of Central Hills Chenchus are the Hindu Tribes - the Aboriginal Ones who are found in the Central Hills stations of Andhra Pradesh. Chenchus are the Aboriginal Tribe who still consider hunting for their livelihood rather then farming. Selling meat is one of their major activity. Their food consists of gruel made from jowar or maize, and boiled or cooked jungle tubers. They mix tamarind fruit with tamarind. The Caste Hindu which lives with Chenchus take Chenchus land on rent and pay by giving a portion of their harvest to Chenchus. They are the food gathering tribe who mostly speak Telgu. The Chenchus collect jungle products like roots, fruits, tubers, beedi leaf, mohua flower, honey, gum, tamarind and green leaves and make a mearge income of it by selling these to traders and government cooperatives.

TRIBES & TRIBALS OF INDIA