Tip | Santal history and customs explained by the Daricha Foundation – West Bengal and Jharkhand

The Santals, a proto-Austroloid racial group,  are the largest tribe in West Bengal accounting  for more than 50% of the state`s tribal population. Other than West Bengal, their major concentration is in the states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and Tripura.  In Assam, they are not classified separately as a tribe and their lot is clubbed … Read more

The “Sohrai” harvest festival of the Santals: A large mural created by village artists to express their cultural identity – West Bengal

Sohrai – The First Day The most important festival of the Santals is called Sohrai. It is the Harvest Festival celebrated after the rice harvest in early January. The celebrations stretch over several days. The first day is Um hiloah. Every family contributes half a kilo of rice, a young chicken, salt, turmeric powder, potatoes, … Read more

Video | Little Tibet: Learning in Ladakh by Kavita Meegama – Ladakh

Learning in Ladakh from K K on Vimeo. Ladakh is ‘little Tibet’  culturally speaking and geographically it provides a habitat for the shy and reclusive Snow Leopard which is on the verge of extinction and which is why the Snow Leopard Conservancy exists, to stem their demise. Headed ably by Rinchen Wangchuk in India. SLC, … Read more

Video | “Reviving the Huka Banam”: A Workshop in support of Santal instrumental music (Daricha Foundation) – West Bengal

The Huka Banam has been a Santal tradition, particularly in Purulia and Bankura. However, this ancient instrument is gradually becoming extinct and there are just a handful of practitioners left today. This workshop was organized as an initial step towards stemming the decline. © 2016 Daricha Foundation. Workshop, Purulia Source: :: Reviving the Huka BanamAddress: https://www.daricha.org/videoplay.aspx?ID=119Date … Read more

UNICEF study on tribal education conducted by the National Institute of Advanced Studies

Adivasis in India receive the “lowest-cost, poorest-quality and indifferently administered education”, a [2012] study backed by the UNICEF has revealed. Not only are the Adivasis marginalised, even affirmative action/reservation programmes for Adivasis (as Scheduled Tribes) in higher educational institutions have not had the desired effect, the report suggests. Conducted by the National Institute of Advanced … Read more