Seasons & festivals

“Our boys and girls get an opportunity to set their eyes upon each other during the dance of the Dandari. They also get to interact a little before they can mutually agree to take the matter to the next step. […] As per our customs and traditions the youngsters enjoy liberty in many aspects. It is rare that a selection made during the Dandari-Ghusadi [dance festival] phase gets cancelled.” – Patel of Bandeyer Atram Sone Rao (Telangana), quoted in “Adivasis dance their way to a girl’s heart” (The Hindu, 29 October 2016)
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/Adivasis-dance-their-way-to-a-girl’s-heart/article16085049.ece
https://indiantribalheritage.org/?p=22436

Audio | Manasamangal song cycle of the snake goddess, Manasa: A tribal goddess appropriated into the Hindu pantheon – West Bengal & Bangladesh

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To listen, find “Manasamangal” on the Travelling Archive website, then click the play button (“Listen to a song from this session”) Visit the Travelling Archive website for a larger map and to view more images. The four recordings in this session come from an ongoing project on Manasamangal or the Song Cycle of the Snake Goddess, Manasa, which we have … Read more

Toda culture maintained in Muthanad Mund and Taranad Mund hamlets (Nilgiri) – Tamil Nadu

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The Hindu, July 5, 2013 – Read the full article and view more photos >> K. JESHI visits Muthanad Mund, the fountainhead of the Todas, and discovers some less known facts about the tribe’s culture […] The outing turns out to be a date with the history of the Todas, one of the earliest tribes of The Nilgiris. On … Read more

A splendid way of welcoming the new year among the Khamti community: The Buddhist Sangken festival (April) – Arunachal Pradesh

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The Sangken festival is celebrated by Khamtis, they are one of the oldest tribes of Lohit District of Arunachal Pradesh. The district is located in the plains of Arunachal Pradesh. The festival is a Buddhist festival celebrated with respect where Buddha is worshipped for the welfare of the mankind. […] Not only Buddhists, but people … Read more

The unique puppetry of the Santals: Chadar Badar (Chadar Bandhani) – Bihar & West Bengal

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Text: courtesy Dr. Ruchira Ghose (Co-Curator, New Delhi, 21 January 2016); to view the full credits for this production on behalf of the National Museum (New Delhi), please check the end of the slideshow here >> Tips Source: CADENCE AND COUNTERPOINT: Documenting Santal Musical Traditions – Google Cultural InstituteAddress: https://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/exhibit/DwISi2xsSQFgKA?position=29%3A0Date Visited: 14 March 2024

Music album and video by Santal village children and youths (DVD, CD): “Children see world around them differently” – West Bengal & Odisha

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The photos were taken by the students themselves. Now, we have produced two music albums (one video and another audio). All the photos and video clippings that are used in the album are also taken by the students and teachers of RSV School. The children started capturing their lives as soon as they learnt to … Read more