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

Lessons in sustainable development, Unity in Diversity: “We shall first have to give up this hubris of considering tribes backward” – Vice President of India’s Foundation Day lecture

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Vice president delivers “first foundation day lecture of NCST” | To download the official transcript, click here >> While delivering the Foundation Day lecture, the Vice President asked that we shall first have to give up this hubris of considering tribes backward. Every tribe has a rich and living cultural tradition and we must respect … Read more

Video | Marriage customs of the Santals: A large mural created by village artists to express their cultural identity – West Bengal

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Marriage Reception A Santal marriage takes five days and involves various, often complex, rituals. On the day of the Gidi-chumara (Marriage Reception) the women arrive to bless the bride and groom with grass and grains of rice which are kept in a basket. The high wooden turmeric crusher called akhur (on the right) indicates that … Read more

Bhagoriya Dance: Bhil celebrations that link prospective brides with bridegrooms – Madhya Pradesh

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Bhagoriya is a well known dance of the Bhils, a large tribe of Jhabua district in Madhya Pradesh. The dance is associated with a festival known as `bhagoria’ and a fair called bhagoriya haat. The tribal unwed boys and girls prepare for this fest that serves the purpose of marriage bureaux by establishing link between … Read more

The Jennu Habba (Honey Festival): “We would like to share with our children the thrill and joy of our traditions” – Southern region

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It is the honey season and bee hives in the forest are bursting with sweetness. Over generations our people, the Kattunayakans have mastered the skills required to take honey from the hives. With a rich history of song, dance and ritual, honey gathering is crucial to our very identity. We would like to share with … Read more

Rabindranath Tagore – pioneer in rural education

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A most important truth, which we are apt to forget, is that a teacher can never truly teach unless he is still learning himself. A lamp can never light another lamp unless it continues to burn its own flame. – Rabindranath Tagore quoted in Santiniketan (1961, p. 28) India celebrated the 150th birth anniversary of Rabindranath … Read more