Adivasi Culture & Development

As a Kuṇhu or Kisan tribal, for my livelihood, I rely on agriculture, maintaining unity in social life. In festivals like weddings, social groups act as decision-makers. Even though we live by constitutional methods, our tribe has a unique language, which is why we are different from others.

— Paradeshi Mirdha · Sambalpur, Odisha

My name is Lambodar Majhi, from the village Kharsel. In our Adivasi community, those who were our ancestors or elders, whatever they used to say, the younger generations would follow their words, which helped in the development of the community's culture, traditions, food, and education.

— RUDRA PRASAD BAG · Tīmanpur, Nuapada, Odisha

In the Kisan tribe, mutual cooperation and showing empathy are key determinants of community life. Even though we have similarities with other people, we are different because of our own language and traditions.

— Upendra Kumar Mahananda

In the Munda tribe, mutual cooperation and showing empathy are the main determinants of community lifestyle. Even though we have similarities with other people, we are different because of our own language.

— Kumudini Chhanchan · Bhojpur, Sambalpur, Odisha

Mutual cooperation and showing empathy among the Kisan community are key determinants of their communal lifestyle. Even though we have similarities with other people, we are distinct because of our own language.

— Kumudini Chhanchan · Bhojpur, Sambalpur, Odisha

In our Oram tribe, marriages and ritualistic feasts are specially conducted according to the decisions of our community. Because we also have a special language, we are unique.

— Paradeshi Mirdha · Sambalpur, Odisha

In our Kharia tribe, helping each other and showing empathy are decisive for our community life. Because we have our own language and traditions, our unique identity has been created.

— Upendra Kumar Mahananda

We are a tribal community. Our language and food are different because of our tribal identity.

— Bharati Khandapatra · Mayurbhanj, Odisha

In our Munda tribe, mutual cooperation and showing empathy are the main determinants of our communal lifestyle. Even though we have equality like other people, we are distinct because of our own language.

— Upendra Kumar Mahananda

In the Munda tribe, mutual cooperation and showing empathy are key determinants of their community-based lifestyle. Despite having similarities with other people, we are distinct because of our own language.

— Paradeshi Mirdha · Katarbaga, Sambalpur, Odisha

In the Munda tribe, mutual cooperation and showing empathy are key determinants of a communal lifestyle. Even though we have equality like other people, we are different because of our own language.

— Paradeshi Mirdha · Katarbaga, Sambalpur, Odisha

My name is Khabari Digala. My village is Lambakupa. GP is Pikarodi. The block is Tikabali. The district is Kandhamal. In our rural area, the main food items were Gangu, Kuheri, Mandia, Jona, Makka, Biri, Muga. Earlier, no fertilizer was used in this cultivation. And because of that, our ancestors lived for many days. We... we...

— Sunita Pradhan · Tikabali, Kandhamal, Odisha

In our Kharia tribe, mutual cooperation and showing empathy are decisive for our community life. Our unique identity has been created because we have our own language.

— Paradeshi Mirdha · Katarbaga, Sambalpur, Odisha

In our Kharia tribe, mutual cooperation and showing empathy are decisive for our community life. Our unique identity has been created because we have our own language.

— Kumudini Chhanchan · Sambalpur, Odisha

Firstly, our lifestyle is nature-centric. Forests, hills, rivers, soil—we have a daily connection with all of these. We see nature not just as a resource, but as a life-giving companion. Secondly, our customs and traditions, traditional knowledge, festivals, songs, dances, and folk tales have made our identity unique. These cultural aspects distinguish us from other tribes. Thirdly, our collective philosophy of life—“Everyone eats together, works together, and supports each other”—this is our strength. The community is considered senior to the individual. Fourthly, our intimate connection with land, forest, and water. Considering the hills as deities, the forest as life, and wildlife as fellow travelers—this is the root of our culture. Therefore, my tribe is different from others because of: Traditional forest food and medicinal knowledge, Collective way of life, Life principles based on ancestral advice and folk tales, Religious perspective based on self-realization and natural relationships, Traditional agriculture, forest livelihood, and indigenous practices. All these elements make my tribe known as a distinct cultural, identity-rich, and glorious community.

— sudhir gamanga · Kharlingi, Housingboard Colony, Rayagada

In the Munda tribe, mutual cooperation and showing empathy are key determinants of their community-based lifestyle. Although we have equality like other people, we are distinct because of our own language.

— Kumudini Chhanchan · Sambalpur, Odisha

In the Munda community, mutual cooperation and showing empathy are key determinants of the community lifestyle. Although we have similarities with other people, we are different because of our own language.

— Kumudini Chhanchan · Bhojpur, Sambalpur, Odisha

In our Kharia tribe, mutual cooperation and empathy are crucial for our community life. Our unique identity has been created because we have our own language.

— Paradeshi Mirdha · Sambalpur, Odisha

In our Kharia tribe, mutual cooperation and empathy are crucial for our communal life. Having our own language has forged our unique identity.

— Kumudini Chhanchan · Bhojpur, Sambalpur, Odisha

In our Kharia tribe, helping each other and showing empathy are decisive for our community life. Because we have our own language, our unique identity has been created.

— Kumudini Chhanchan · Bhojpur, Sambalpur, Odisha

In our Kharia tribe, mutual cooperation and empathy are crucial for our communal life. Because we have our own language, our unique identity has been created.

— Kumudini Chhanchan · Bhojpur, Sambalpur, Odisha

We are farmers by community, our language is different, that is why we are also different.

— Pankajini Chhatria

In some tribes, the use of plough and yoke in marriage was a major determining factor, which they still follow. That's why we have a unique identity.

— Paradeshi Mirdha · Sambalpur, Odisha

Ans - Our people have been living in the village for 100 years, their language, dress, customs, and food are all different. Village - Gangalaguḍa Gram Panchayat - Potrel District - Malkangiri Name - Sabita Madhi

— Champa Gatan · Ramakrishnapalli MV 109, Malkangiri, Odisha

The identity of a tribe is primarily defined by respect, language, culture, shared ancestry, blood, relationships, specific social and political structures, and their ways of living. It is different from other societies because

— Maya kumari Damor

A tribe is identified by its language and cultural tradition.

— SUKDEV HEMBRAM

The language, culture, and traditions of the tribe are distinct from other societies. Food and customs.

— SUKDEV HEMBRAM

My name is Dinabandhu Majhi from Nilaji village. Adivasi tribes are completely different from other tribes. Our food, attire, and customs are very simple and beautiful.

— RUDRA PRASAD BAG · Dongrīmunda, Nuapada, Odisha

My name is Samarasila Pradhan, Gummamaha Raikia. I want to uphold the tradition of our village.

— Santilata Nayak · Raikia, Kandhamal, Odisha

Our tribe is mainly nature-worshipping. Our culture, customs, attire, tradition, and spoken language have a distinct identity that is different from others.

— Rupesh Maravi · Mandla, Madhya Pradesh

Tribals have their own distinct traditions, customs, festivals, different attire, and different language.

— Kachala Choudhary

Our tribe is distinct from others because its culture and traditions are different, its languages are different. Its internal unity is also distinct.

— Sunil oraon · Ranchi, Jharkhand

The main identity of our tribe is our conservative tradition and attire, along with our rituals, spoken language, and prevalent practices related to nature that have been passed down from our ancestors. These are not found in other societies, so this is our identity.

— Rupesh Maravi · Mandla, Madhya Pradesh

We are tribal people, our traditions are distinct, our culture is distinct. We all want to preserve them.

— Parikshit Majhi

The factors that define our culture, including our traditions, cultural practices, birth, death, and marriage rituals, are distinct from other tribes, as is our spoken language.

— Sukhdas Mandavi · Mohla, Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki, Chhattisgarh

We are a tribal community, we farm using ploughs and bullocks, and we sustain our lives. We clear forests and bushes to make fields, and we cultivate sawa, medo, mijhri, and maize, which were grown by our ancestors, and we also preserve their seeds.

— Ram Kumari · Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh

We are the Kharia tribal community. And we worship the trees, pillars, and soil of the forest. And accordingly, our festivals, our language are also different. That's why we are separate.

— Anjana Khadia · Sundargarh, Odisha

Our customs, attire, traditions, spoken language, lifestyle, food habits, and culture are very different from other societies, which is an identity of the tribal community.

— Rupesh Maravi · Mandla, Madhya Pradesh

The main factors defining a tribe include common language, culture, customs, and lineage from ancestors. They have their own distinct identity which separates them from other cultures and non-tribal communities.

— Jagannath Baraik · Lapung, Ranchi, Jharkhand

There is a flow in our tribe. The key defining elements are culture and tradition, language, food habits, lifestyle, lack of education, etc.

— Sunil oraon · Ranchi, Jharkhand