| Tribes |
Details |
| Banjara Community |
- Spread across India, primarily in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan.
- Traditionally nomadic; now settled in permanent dwellings called Tandas.
- Speak Gor Boli (Lambadi), an Indo-Aryan language with no script.
- Predominantly Hindu, incorporating animistic beliefs and folk traditions.
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| Gond Tribe |
- Dravidian tribal group spread across MP, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and Odisha, with smaller pockets in other states.
- Settled in the Gondwana region between 9th-13th centuries.
- Gond Kingdoms: Four major dynasties, Garha-Mandla, Deogarh, Chanda & Kherla, ruled central India.
- Actively fought the British and held power in Malwa after the decline of the Mughals and Marathas (1690).
- Speak Gondi, an unwritten Dravidian language.
- Follow clan and village deities, ancestor worship; celebrate Keslapur Jathra, Madai, and Dussehra.
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| Jarawa Tribe |
- 19 members of Jarawa tribe of A&N Islands have been officially enrolled in the electoral roll for the first time in November 2024.
- Recognised as PVTG. Estimated current population ~400 individuals.
- Nomadic, hunter-gatherer tribe relying on wild fruits, roots, honey and fish.
- Live in temporary huts on western coast of South and Middle Andaman Islands.
- Jarawa language (Ongan family) is critically endangered as per UNESCO’s Atlas of the World’s Languages in Danger.
- Jarawa Reserve notified under Andaman & Nicobar Islands (Protection of Aboriginal Tribes) Regulation, 1956, entry into which is prohibited for outsiders without special permission.
- Andaman Adim Janjati Vikas Samiti (AAJVS) is an autonomous body established in 1976 by the Andaman & Nicobar Administration. Focuses on welfare, development, and protection of the PVTGs in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
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| Dongria Kondh Tribe |
- The Niyamgiri Hills case 2013, India’s first environmental referendum, saw the Dongria Kondh tribe (PVTG) in Odisha reject Vedanta’s bauxite mining project.
- Recognised as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG).
- Indigenous to Niyamgiri Hills, spanning Kalahandi & Rayagada districts, Odisha.
- They also call themselves Jharnia, or “protectors of streams”.
- Blieve in animism—revering nature. Hilltops and forests are worshipped as living deities.
- Ancestral deity: Niyam Raja, the mythical god-king and protector of the hills. Niyamgiri festival, an annual cultural celebration held in April, honours Niyam Raja.
- Speak Kuyi and Kuvi languages, linguistically distinct from Odia.
- No centralised religious or political authority exists.
- Traditionally, horticulturists, Dongria Kondhs practice podu cultivation (shifting agriculture) & collection of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) like fruits, honey, herbs.
- Odisha has 62 tribal groups, with 13 recognised as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGS). PVTGs make up 9% of Odisha’s population (2011 Census), with tribal settlers constituting 22.85%.
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| Moran Community |
- Launched an economic blockade in Assam’s Tinsukia district to demand recognition as Scheduled Tribe.
- Morans are an indigenous community of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh with roots in the Tibeto-Burman Kachari group of tribes.
- Native Moran language, related to Dimasa, is extinct; now Assamese is mainly spoken.
- Largely follow Neo-Vaishnavism through satras and namghars, replacing older animistic practices.
- Led the Moamoria Rebellion (1769–1805), weakening the Ahom monarchy.
- Kachari tribe family includes Bodos, Dimasas, and Chutias in Northeast India.
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| Raika Tribe |
- Also called Rabari community, an indigenous pastoralist tribe primarily in Rajasthan and parts of Gujarat, especially in Kumbhalgarh (Rajsamand district) and the Thar Desert.
- Historically been the breeders of Rajasthan’s indigenous hardy Marwari camel, known for strength, endurance and desert adaptability.
- Consider camel rearing a divine duty from Lord Shiva, not merely a profession.
- Traditional camel herding, livestock grazing (camels, sheep, goats) forms not only their livelihood, but also a part of their oral history, seasonal migration patterns, rituals and sacred customs.
- Follow age-old migratory grazing routes across arid and semi-arid zones.
- Facing rapid decline: Reduced camel utility, shrinking grazing lands, a lack of support, and a generational shift threaten their pastoral way of life.
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| Siddi Community |
- Siddis, also known as Sheedis or Habshis, are a primitive tribal group of African origin.
- They were brought from East Africa to India as slaves by Indian rulers & Portuguese traders between the 15th and 17th centuries.
- Mainly concentrated in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh.
- Religious Practices: Practice several religions, including Islam, Hinduism, and Christianity.
- They are known for their Dhamal or Goma tradition, which combines African drumming and rhythms with Indian influences
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| Romani People |
- Largest populations in Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Slovakia, Turkey, the USA, and Brazil.
- Closely connected to the presumed aboriginal Doma community in northwestern India (Rajasthan, Haryana, and the Punjab) and the Gangetic plain and likely shared the same ancestors.
- Speak Romani language (Indo-Aryan family). Romanes has its roots in Sanskrit languages and is related to Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu and Bengali.
- Charlie Chaplin, Michael Caine, and Rita Hayworth claimed descent from the Roma.
- World Romani Congress works for Roma rights, and the Council of Europe has special programs to protect Roma culture and rights.
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| Ollo Tribe (Lazu Naga or a subgroup of Tangshang Naga) |
- Indigenous Tibeto-Burman community inhabiting Lazu Circle of Tirap, Arunachal Pradesh.
- Patriarchal and clan-based, traditionally led by chiefs called Lowang and Ngongpa.
- Their main festival, Woraang (Voorang), celebrates the harvest season.
- Not recognised as a Scheduled Tribe; grouped under the Nocte or other Naga tribes.
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| Ramnami Tribe |
- Originated in the 19th century Chhattisgarh as a peaceful resistance movement against the caste system, which barred lower-caste devotees from temple entry.
- Often called the “living embodiment of faith” as they tattoo ‘Ram’ on their bodies.
- For them, ‘Ramnam’ (chanting the name) is religion, and ‘Rambhakti’ is action.
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| Abujhmadiya Tribe |
- Members of the Abujhmadiya Tribe took part in the Bastar Olympics, government-backed multi-sport initiative in Chhattisgarh.
- Recognised as one of the seven Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG) in Chhattisgarh, under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. As per the 2011 census, the tribe has about 40,000 members.
- Speak Abujhmaria, considered a variant of the Gondi (Dravidian) language family.
- Subsistence base includes shifting cultivation, forest produce collection, minor agriculture, and livestock.
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| Khiamniungan Tribe |
- Naga community inhabiting eastern Nagaland and north-western Myanmar.
- Livelihood: Agriculture, specifically shifting cultivation complemented by livestock rearing. Practise the unique cliff honey hunting methods.
- Known for their vibrant traditional attire, elaborate headgear, & unique folk dances.
- Language: Patsho Khiamniungan | Festivals: Tsokum, Miu, Khaotzao Sey Hok-ah
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