The social significance of an individual’s name: The Oram community – Jharkhand

Name of the Individual […] The selection of individual’s name bears relevant social significance in the Oram community. Generally the main purpose of name selection for an individual is to point out the particular person who is being granted specific social position in the contemporary society. Oram vs Gotra (clan): crises in the use of … Read more

Slideshow | Saving the wildlife habitat and livelihood of indigenous population of the Niyamgiri Hills – Odisha

To view the slideshow published, click here >> Isolated from the polluted urban life, the Dongaria-Kondh tribe of Niyamgiri hills can at last breathe a sigh of relief. On 28th February 2005 British mining company, Vedanta Resources and the Orissa State Government intended on converting 660.749 ha of pristine land into a giant bauxite mine … Read more

ePaper | “Great relevance for the human welfare”: Traditional knowledge of ethnic people & sustainable utilization of plant resources – Himalayan region

The present investigation aimed at documenting medicinally important species of trees usedby Tharu tribe in the Himalayan Terai region of India. Out of 204 tree species belonging to 143 genera and 50 families reported in this study, uses of 148 species have been recorded from this region for the first time. Over all, more than … Read more

Munda martial arts – Jharkhand

The Munda community of Jharkhand performs the Paika Dance. It is a stylized representation of the rituals connected with the preparations of war. The dancers hold bows, arrows, spears, swords and shields and the dance is, in fact a stylized worship of arms. […] Previously the dance was performed to welcome guests, but nowadays it … Read more

Adivasi music – bibliography

Audio-resource-link: The Muria and Maria Gonds of Madhya Pradesh – audio examples and information >> Babiracki, C.M., ‘Tribal music in the study of great and little traditions of Indian music’. In: B. Nettl (ed.), Comparative musicology and anthropology of music. Chicago, 1990. Bhattachary S., 5., Ethno-musicology and India. Calcutta,1968. Deva, B.C., Musical instruments. Delhi, 1977. … Read more