| STATE | NAME OF THE TRIBAL GROUP | EXTRA INFO | IMPORTANT FESTIVAL |
|---|
| Andaman and Nicobar Islands. | Onge | Traditionally hunter-gatherers | – |
| Andaman Islands | Jarawas | Very little is known about the Jarawas, apart from the fact that they use rafts, live in oval huts and are excellent swimmers.Jarawas -means “the other people”. | – |
| Andhra Pradesh, Orissa | Chenchus | one of the Primitive Tribal Groups that are still dependent on forests and do not cultivate land but hunt for a living | Nagula Chavitha |
| Arunachal Pradesh | Abors/ Adi | Spinsters wear a ‘beyop ‘It is special type of ornament consisting of five to six brass plates rightly fixed under their petticoatsIt becomes customary for the aged women of Abor tribes to wear yellow necklaces and spiral earrings | Solung |
| Arunachal Pradesh | Aptanis | The Indian tribe where the woman must have ‘black nose plugs’ fitted as rite of passage | Dree and Myoko |
| Birbhum region in Bengal, Hazaribagh, Purnea in Bihar, Orissa | Santal or Saontal | – | Baha Parab “flower festival,Sohrai harvest festival |
| Himachal Pradesh | Gaddis | Gaddis belong to the class of the shepherds and their job is to look after goats and sheep | Basakhi / Bishu ,Patroru Sagrand |
| Himachal Pradesh(also in parts of Rajasthan, MP,J& K, Haryana ,Maharastra) | Gujjars | semi-nomadic tribes and their main occupation is herding of goats, sheep and buffaloes. | Celebrate all festivals of national significance |
| Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal and Orissa. | Kurukh / Oraon | Efficient, particularly in tea garden works, | Sarhul and Karma |
Kerala
| Urali | -Uraali Kurumas are an artisan tribe and their versatile skill in art and handicrafts are well known. They play flute and drum during festivals-experts in creating household utensils using cane.. | Onam, Vishu and Puthar |
| Madhya Pradesh | Baiga | -The Tiger is Worshipped by the Baiga Tribe that calls it “Jai Baghesur-Practice endogamy.-women expertise in body tattoos- Baiga tribals became India’s first community to get habitat rights | Ras-Nawa(means ceremonial eating of honey ) |
| Madhya Pradesh(Bastar) | Murias | Traditionally they are economically homogenous and strive to work as a collective. They have mixed-sex dormitories where adolescents are sent to practice premarital sex, sometimes with a single partner and sometimes serially. They have an omnivorous diet, with liquor playing a key role in their society. | – |
| Madhya Pradesh. Also in Bihar, Orissa and A.P. | Gonds | During the British regime in India, Gonds challenged the Britishers in several battles. They also gained control over the Malwa after the decline of the Mughals followed by the Marathas in the year 1690. | Keslapur Jathra |
| Maharashtra | Warlis | The Warli people are famous for their beautiful and unique style of painting which reflects the close association between human communities and nature | Bhawada ,Kali Puja |
| Manipur | Kuki / Khongjois | – | Lawm Se’ Neh |
| Meghalaya | Garo Tribes | The Garos are one of the few remaining matrilineal societies in the world. The individuals take their clan titles from their mothers. Traditionally, the youngest daughter inherits the property from her mother. Sons leave the parents’ house at puberty, and are trained in the village bachelor dormitory | Wangala (also known as Hundred Drums, Wanna, Wanna Rongchuwa) is a harvest festival celebrated |
| Meghalaya | Khasi people | Khasis follow the unique culture. The property of the Khasis is passed on from the mother to the youngest daughter. Music plays an important part in the life of Khasis.After marriage the groom comes to live at the brides house. | Nongkrem ,Shad Suk Mynsiem. |
| Mizoram | Lushai | Lushai tribes have developed expertise in swimming and hunting. That they are good archers are apparent from the fact that they can nicely handle ‘Sairawkher’. It is a bow made locally that is discerned by its utility of clay shots instead of arrows. | Chapcharkut/ Mimkut /Palkut |
| North West India.(Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan ) | Bhils (the bow men of Rajasthan) | They form the largest tribe of the whole South AsiaThe name Bhil is mentioned in the great epic called Mahabharata and Ramayana. The Bhil women offered ber to Lord Rama, when he was wandering through the jungles of Dhandaka, searching Sita | Baneshwar fair |
| Sikkim | Lepchas or Rongkip | The lepcha hut is made up of bamboo just five feet above the ground | Tendong Lho Rum Faat |
| Sikkim, Darjeeling, Nepal and surrounding areas. | bhutia | – | – |
| Tamil Nadu ( Nilgiri Hills) | Badagas / Baduguru | Thundu (a white piece of cloth) forms an integral part of the attire of Badaga women and as a cultural item, is presented to visiting dignitaries as a gesture of good will. | Hethai Habba |
| TN (Nilgris) | Kotas, also Kothar or Kov | The Kotas are the only artisan tribe of the Nilgiris. They practiced pottery, blacksmithy, goldsmithy, tool making and carpentry. Interestingly, they were also musicians that performed at the ceremonies of the Todas and Badagas.(tribes) | Kambatrayar |
| Tripura | Chakmas / Daingnet people | The women are experts in weaving. They wear an ankle length cloth around the waist which is also called ‘Phinon’ and also a ‘Khadi’ wrapped above the waist as well as silver ornaments. | BizuAlphaloniBuddha Purnima |
What about Bodos of Assam and Mech (or Bodo) of West Bengal (Duars area)? These are missing. Bodos in Assam (BTAD) are the major tribal population in Assam. Garos (Garo Hill) are in Meghalaya.