The Nyishi people of Arunachal Pradesh, meaning "highland people." The name Nyishi comes from the words 'nyi' (man) and 'shi' (mountain). The Nyishis are thought to be descendants of their legendary ancestor Abhu Thanyi, a Yunnan Province native of China. Although a…

Together with unique wet rice cultivation with fish farming, there is a wonderful place in the hills of the Ziro Valley, Arunachal Pradesh, called the Adi. The Apatanis have been known to live in harmony with nature, depending on paddy cum fish culture and bamboo forestry. These practices of their…

Marriage rituals among the Reang tribe reflect their traditional customs and deep-rooted social structures. The community follows endogamous marriage practices, meaning that marriages typically occur within the same clan. However, in recent times, inter-community marriages have become more common.…

The main factors that affect the communitarian life of the Reang tribe are the traditional occupations of the community, the economic activities, social structures, and religious practices: Wielding the major features, the Reang is nomadic and is primarily dependent on jhum cultivation, hunting,…

This tribe inhabits the rural landscape of Gujarat, India, specifically the Chhota Udepur district, rich in preserving their local culture. Unique about its celebration is this dance at Holi, which is an engagement of men and women in rites for their Holi Mata. The festival observance starts ten…

The Kotvaliya tribe of Gujarat is well known for their art craft, particularly basket-making. These baskets of varied different sizes and shapes are put to various household uses such as textile markets and also harvesting. The other procedure of making them involves cutting bamboo by chips. Inter…

In every Juang village, there exists a significant community institution known as the Majang or Mandaghar. This is a rectangular structure prominently located at the center of the village and serves multiple purposes. It acts as a youth dormitory, a courtroom for the council of elders (Barabhai), a…

A key institution in the communal life of the Dongria Kondh is the Sadar, the village community centre where the elders regularly gather to discuss matters concerning the village. Typically located along the village street, the Sadar is also a sacred space where village deities are worshipped and…

Each Paudi Bhuyan village functions as a close-knit social unit where people are deeply interconnected and support one another through joy and sorrow. The village plays a central role in key communal activities such as youth dormitory life, Biringa cultivation, funerary rites, and the organization…

A significant feature of communal life among the Bondas is the Bonda Labour Cooperative (locally called Buti or Odja). This system of cooperative labor is rooted in mutual obligation and balanced reciprocity. The Bondas assist one another in work and agricultural happenings, for they feel that…