Tribal communities most often mentioned in posts
Adiya Asur Baiga Banjara Bettakurumba Bhil Bhilala Birhor Bodo Chenchu Dongria Kondh Gadaba Garo Gond Ho Irula Jarawa Kaani (Kani) Kattunayakan (Kattunaika, Kattunaicken) Katunaikar Kharia Khasi Khond Kol Kondh Koraga Korku Kota Koya Kurumba Mullukurumba Munda Naga Onge Oraon Paniya Paniyar Rathwa Saharia (Sahariya) Santal (Santhal) Saura Sidhi (Siddi) Soliga Toda Warli
Find out more with the help of “Safe Search”
Type “bhil tribe india” or simply “Bhil custom” to learn more about the Bhil community
For some names like “Mari” it is advisable to include “tribal india” or “tribe india” in your search: type “madia maria tribe india” for the community variously known as Maria or Madia
Use different combinations like “munda tribe india video” or “khasi india music video“
Up-to-date reports by Indian journalists and commentators
To search Indian periodicals, magazines, web portals and other sources safely, click here. To find an Indian PhD thesis on a particular tribal community, region and related issues, click here >>
Search tips
Combine the name of any particular state, language or region with that of any tribal (Adivasi) community.
Add keywords of special interest (music, poetry, dance just as health, sacred grove and biodiversity); learn about the rights of Scheduled Tribes such as the “Forest Rights Act” (FRA); and the United Nations “Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples”, “Universal Declaration of Human Rights”, “women’s rights”, or “children’s right to education”.
Ask a question that includes “tribal” or “Adivasi”, for instance: “Adivasi way of life better?” (or “tribal way of life worse?”)
Specify any particular issue or news item (biodiversity, bonded labour and human trafficking, climate change, ecology, economic development, ethnobotany, ethnomedicine, global warming, hunter-gatherers in a particular region or state, prevention of rural poverty, water access).
For official figures include “scheduled tribe ST” along with a union state or region: e.g. “Chhattisgarh ST community”, “Himalayan tribe”, “Scheduled tribe Tamil Nadu census”, “ST Kerala census”, “Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group Jharkhand”, “PVTG Rajasthan”, “Adivasi ST Kerala”, “Adibasi ST West Bengal” etc.
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Note: hyperlinks and quotes are meant for fact-checking and information purposes only | Disclaimer >>
Points to consider
Some of India’s “tribal” (Adivasi) communities live on more than one national territory (e.g. the Santals of India and Bangladesh).
“Tribal” is a very broad term in the English language; here it is understood as including all the different indigenous groups of India.
Indian tribal cultural heritage: museum collections, eBooks, maps & more
Anthropological Survey | Anthropology
Books on tribal culture and related resources
Crafts and visual arts | Homes and utensils Crafts and visual arts | Masks
Cultural heritage | Revival of traditions
Dress and ornaments | Fashion | Tattoo
eBook | Background guide for education
eBook | Free catalogue: Banam: One of the ancient musical instruments of the Santals – West Bengal
eBook | Free catalogue: Museum of Santal Culture (Bishnubati) – West Bengal
Games and leisure time | Martial arts
India’s 28 States and 8 Union Territories – From Andhra Pradesh to West Bengal
Tribal customs, homes and ornaments in South India: Videos and photographs by Vicky Lakshmanan
Tips for using interactive maps
Toggle to normal view (from reader view) should the interactive map not be displayed by your tablet, smartphone or pc browser
For details and hyperlinks click on the rectangular button (left on the map’s header)
Scroll and click on one of the markers for information of special interest
Explore India’s tribal cultural heritage with the help of another interactive map >>
Regions noted for their wealth of tribal heritage: culture & ecology
Nilgiri Biosphere | Bake Restudy Project (UCLA Digital Library)
Regional Zonal Cultural Centres
Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre, Kolkata
Eastern region – Eastern Zonal Council
North Central Zone Cultural Centre, Prayagraj
Uttar Pradesh
North East Zone Cultural Centre, Dimapur
Seven Sister States & Sikkim – North Eastern Council
North Zone Cultural Centre, Patiala
Northern region – Northern Zonal Council
South Central Zone Cultural Centre, Nagpur
Central region – Central Zonal Council
South Zone Cultural Centre, Thanjavur
Southern region – Southern Zonal Council
West Zone Cultural Centre, Udaipur
Western region – Western Zonal Council
Up-to-date information: Zonal Cultural Centres >>