Component-I (A) – Personal details:

Tourism in and Tourism in India

Prof. P. Bhaskar Reddy Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati.

Dr. E. Sivanagi Reddy Former Director, NITHM.

Dr. E. Sivanagi Reddy & G. Mahender Reddy NITHM, Hyderabad.

Prof. P Narayana Reddy REVA University, Bangalore.

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Component-I (B) – Description of module:

Subject Name Indian Culture

Paper Name Tourism in India

Module Name/Title Tribes and Tourism in India

Module Id IC / TI / 27

Pre requisites Tribes and tourism, Tribal tourism in India To study about tribes and tourism in India Objectives and its scope and importance Keywords Tribes, Tourism, Tribal destinations

E-Text (Quadrant-I): Introduction: Tribal Tourism is connected with tribal culture, values and traditions, tourism products owned and operated by tribal people. Tourism which includes tribal habitat, heritage, history and handicrafts, typically involves small tourism businesses owned by tribes or families. Tourism focused on indigenous knowledge of culture and nature. Modern India has many indigenous tribes, that even today, have retained their primitive customs and their lives are directly associated with their natural surroundings. In this light, this chapter discusses tribal tourism in India. Learning outcomes This chapter provides an overview of tribes and tourism in India and its importance. After reading the chapter you will be able to understand the following:  What tribal tourism is,  Major Tribes of India  Significance of tribal tourism in India  Major tribal destinations in India 1.0 Introduction to Tribes and Tourism Different terms used to describe Indigenous groups include Ethnic minorities (China, Vietnam, Philippines); Tribes (Africa, Americas); Hill tribes (Thailand); Dcheduled Tribes or (India); Native American, Indian or Amerindian (North and South America); Indigenes (Latin America); Aboriginal (Australia, Canada, Taiwan) and First (Canada). The United Nations defines Indigenous or tribal communities, peoples and nations as those having „a historical continuity with pre-invasion and pre-colonial societies that developed on their territories‟, are distinct from other settler groups and want to „preserve, develop and transmit to future generations their ancestral territories, and their ethnic identity‟. This historical continuity is based on occupation of ancestral lands, common ancestry, cultural practices and language. Indigenous people are also economically and culturally marginalized and often live in extreme poverty. A is viewed, historically or developmentally, as a social group existing before the development of, or outside of states. Many anthropologists used the term, tribal society, to refer to societies organized largely on the basis of , especially corporate descent groups.

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Tribal tourism is a showcase of tribal life, art, culture and heritage. Tribal tourism enables interaction between the tourists and the local residents for an enriching experience. In his 1975 study, The Notion of the Tribe, anthropologist Morton H. Fried provided numerous examples of tribes the members of which spoke different languages and practiced different rituals, or that shared languages and rituals with members of other tribes. Similarly, he provided examples of tribes where people followed different political leaders, or followed the same leaders as members of other tribes. He concluded that tribes in general are characterized by fluid boundaries and heterogeneity, are not parochial and are dynamic. Indigenous tourist attractions include museums and cultural villages, nature-based tours, Indigenous fairs and festivals or events and art galleries. Cultural, environmental and spiritual aspects of Indigenous heritage and traditions are especially featured in Indigenous tourism. The UN Commission on Sustainable Development highlighted the key role of in the conservation of natural areas and species on their lands. Indigenous people comprise five percent of the world‟s but embody 80% of the world‟s cultural diversity. They are estimated to occupy 20% of the world‟s land surface but nurture 80% of the world‟s biodiversity on ancestral lands and territories. India has a large number of tribal people who still belong to a social set-up, of which very little is known. These tribes who stay in different parts of the country are still to come out of their traditional way of life and join the mainstream. Not-with-standing this apparent aloofness, these tribes are very much a part of Indian society. Having a culture and tradition that is distinctly different from others, the tribes still occupy the yet to be discovered horizons. Modern India has many indigenous tribes, that even today, have been able to retain their primitive customs and their lives are directly associated with their natural surroundings. The tribals in India, are the pro-environmental communities who are fighting to protect rivers, lands and forests that are the sources of their livelihood. The congruity that exists between local tribal and Nature only helps in making tribal territories full of exotic bio- diversities. In the western part of the country, in Rajasthan and Gujarat one can witness a way of life that is colorful, while in South India, the skillful craftsmanship of Todas of Nilgiri Hills will fascinate. Their pastoral way of life clearly brings out the beauty in simplicity. In Central India, in the picturesque , you will get to see the Santhals and the tribals of Bastar. The Santhals are one of the oldest tribals living in India. Again, the north-eastern tribes of India are known for their traditional songs and dances, their colorful handmade clothing and intricately woven bamboo handicrafts. There are often more to be seen than what meet the eyes. The tribal society is always a thing of great interest. With a well chalked out tour to any of these places you will be able to explore the roots of a multicultural and multilingual India, where unity in diversity is the essence of national spirit. 2.0 Tribes of India Muria: The people of Muria tribe are inhabitants of Bastar district in the state of . They are relatively prosperous when compared to other tribes in the district. They are self sufficient in producing chickpeas, dal and lentils. The tribe follows pre-marital sex. The youth are expected to engage in sexual activities while they are discouraged to become emotionally attached to the sex partner. The Muria tribe worships village and deities. Korwa: People of Korwa tribe live in the hills and forests of Chhoanagpur, Chhattisgarh. The Korwa community consists of four sub groups namely Agaria Korwa, Dam Korwa, Dih Korwa and Pahar Korwa. All four sub groups worship the same deity named Dih. People of Korwa tribe speak Korba language, which is also known as Ernga, Singli and Bhashi. Kamar: Kamar is one of the tribes in India who lives in the Raipur and Rewa districts of . Their local language is called Kamar. Military service is considered to be their traditional occupation. Farming is the occupation of most of the Kamar people. There are four sub groups called Gots in the Kamar tribe. They follow and each home has its own family God.

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Munda: are found in Indian states of Jharkhand, , , , Chhattisgarh, , and Madhya Pradesh and in . Munda is one of the largest tea tribes of the . They speak . The contemporary culture of the Munda people is a mix of Sarnaism and . The traditional occupation of Munda people is hunting, but now-a-days they are employed in various sectors. Kharia: The are found in the Indian states of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal and Assam. There are a few inhabitants in Andaman Islands also. There are mainly three tribes which constitute the entire Kharia. They are: Dudh Kharia, Dhelki Kharia, and Hill Kharia. They practice hunting, gathering and collecting of forest resources for their livelihood. Juang: Juang tribal people are the inhabitants of Gonasika hill range in the state of Odisha. They belong to the Munda . The primitive Juang people were mainly hunters and gatherers. Father and all females of one family live together in a hut, whereas boys live in separate huts at the entrance of their village. They were forced to take up basket weaving as their occupation after the British declared their forests as reserves. The Juang people worshipped forest spirits in the olden days. The contemporary Juang people worship Laksmi and are considered as a Hindu caste with basket- making as occupation. : The people of Bhumij tribe can be found in the Indian states of Assam, Jhakhand, Odisha and West Bengal. They speak Mundari language. The term Bhumij means one who is born from soil. Although they have traditional beliefs, the modern Bhumij people adopted Hinduism as their religion. Koya: Koya tribal people are inhabitants of Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Odisha. They are also referred to as Koi, Koyalu, Koyollu and so on. Their language is known as Koya, which does not have a script. The Koya people are primarily cultivators and artisans. Galo: The people live in the central eastern Himalayas. They are the descendents of Abotani and speak Galo language. They are also referred with names such as Duba, Doba, Dobah Abor, Gallong Abor, Galong, Gallong Adi, etc. The Galo people follow monogamy, but the elite people of the tribe follow polygamy. They follow the religion Donyi Polo and now Christianity is spreading rapidly. Badagas: The Badagas are tribal people, inhabitants of the Nilgiri Hills of the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. They are the largest indigenous tribe in the Nilgiri Hills and they speak Badugu language which has no script. They depend on agriculture and their population is spread across nearly 440 villages. Even though their main deity is Hethai, they also worship several Hindu deities. Bhil: Bhils, also known as Bheels, are the tribal people inhabited in the central India (mainly in the states of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, , Rajasthan and Tripura) and also in certain parts of Sindh in Pakistan. They are the largest tribal group in India and they speak Bhil language. The Bhils include several and lineages such as Barda, Vasava, Bhil Mavchi etc. An important element of the Bhil culture is the Ghoomar dance. Gondi: The Gondi or the Gond is the tribal people of Dravidian origin who are inhabited in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and so on. Their main languages are Gondi and , but other Indo-Aryan languages are also spoken. The script called Gunjala Gondi Lipi is used to write Gondi language. The Gonds are well known for their knowledge of astronomy Apatani: Apatani, also known as Tanw, Apa and Apa Tani, are the tribal people inhabited in the Ziro valley in the Indian state of . The tribe follows democracy and their village council is known as Bulyang. Their oral folk tales are known as Miji and Migun.

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They worship the nature and believe that every object in the nature has divine power. They are known for the nose plugs and face tattoos. Jarawa: Jarawa or Jarwa is one among the several indigenous tribes of Andaman and Nicobar islands. The name Jarawa means “people on earth”. They speak Jarawa language, one of the Ongan languages. They are believed to have inhabited Andaman islands for about seven thousand years. They were totally isolated from the outside world till few years ago. Urali: The Urali tribe is one among several tribes inhabited in the south Indian state of Kerala. Agriculture is their prime occupation. Hunting, mat weaving, basket making, pottery etc., are also done by Urali people. They worship nature and believe that sun is the creator of all souls.Mikir: Mikir, also known as Karbi, is an important tribe in the North-East India. The Mikir people are mainly inhabited in the state of Assam. Linguistically, the Mikir people belong to Tibeto-Burman group. The tribe includes five major clans and marriage between people of same clan is not practiced. Rongker and Chomkan are important among the various festivals celebrated by the Mikir people. 3.0 Tribal Tourism Destinations in India The majority of India‟s tribal groups are present in central, northeast, western and east India. Tropical central states of Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh are home to the Gond, the region‟s largest tribe.. In Eastern India, almost one fourth of Odisha‟s population belongs to tribal community. India‟s tribes are known for their arts and craftsmanship. Northeast India: The northeastern region of India includes the states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, , , , Tripura and . The entire Northeast India is home to several ethnic groups, who have inhabited this region since antiquity. The Northeast Indian tribes are known for their distinctive culture, ancient language, hand-woven dress and handicrafts, all of which are distinctive and most appealing too. Some of the prominent tribes of the northeast India include Nagas, Khasis, Jaintias, Mizos, Boros, and Cacharis. There are 16 major tribes in untamed Nagaland, which shares a border with Myanmar in remote north east India. These villages are just a few hours from Kohima or to the far-off districts of Mon (renowned for having the last surviving head hunters) and Mokokchung. Odisha: Odisha, girdled by the Bay of Bengal is a lush green state with the best fusion of traditional Indian art depicted in its temples and an exceptional natural world that is loaded with immense splendour. Lush green mountains, with rich paddies and terraces dot this state everywhere. Odisha is a traditional dwelling place of several tribes who endorse its antiquity. The largest number of tribes can be found in this state. These ancient people with mystical ancient ways dwell in Odisha's remote, deep forests and hilly interiors. Most of them are in the southwest part of the state. Some tribal areas are quite inaccessible and require permission and language is also a barrier. The tribes continue to inhabit Odisha's remote areas in the deep forests and hilly interiors. Immersed in obscurity that revolves around ethnic lifestyle, the Odishan tribes continue to be a source of deep interest for numerous tourists, alongside anthropologists and sociologists. Tourists flock to Odisha to find the unusual charm of this comparatively unsung state. Major tribal sites in Odisha are : Jeypore, Baliguda, Kothagargh, Rayagada, Chatikiona Ankadeli and these are few of the places which are worth seeing in this state. Activities around the jungles are main source of income for the Odisha's tribes. The Juang, Bhuyan, Bondo, Saura, and Dhruba tribes follow the shifting cultivation practice. The Koya tribals are cattle breeders while the Mahali and Lohara are simple artisans involved in basket weaving and tool making. The Santal, Munda and other tribes have now also become involved in the mining and industrial belt of Odisha. The tribals of Odisha treasure a rich and diverse cultural heritage. The changing seasons, religious customs and the traditional values are strong motivation for creating a series of festivals that enrich their life cycle.

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Chhattisgarh: Chhattisgarh is one of the most intriguing tribal tourist destinations of not only India but the world. Chhattisgarh has constantly been identical with tribes and tribal culture. Chhattisgarh is famed for its incomparable picturesque splendour and distinctive and rich ethnic culture. The tribes of Chhattisgarh follow unique lifestyle and have impressively maintained their culture and traditions for ages. Over three fourth of its population is tribal, with most of them living in the thickly forested areas of the Bastar region. The tribes, which are predominantly Gonds, are known for producing beautiful arts and crafts, music and dance and unorthodox marriage practices. Young men and women live together in groups in Ghotul huts and interact freely before getting married. The Dusshera festival is one of the most important festivals of the region and is celebrated in unique style . Rajasthan: Bhil tribe, the predominant group, were amongst the original inhabitants of Rajasthan. They are mostly located in southern Rajasthan and certain cities are named after their Kings who once ruled there. It is advised not to miss the five day Baneswar tribal fair, held in January/February in Dungarpur. The Holi festival is celebrated in traditional style in Banswara with the Bhils. During this festivals the Bhils can be seen in traditional clothing, carrying swords and sticks and performing the tribal dance of the region. Conveniently located not far from Jodhpur, Bishnoi village provides an authentic experience of rural Rajasthan. The notable Bishnoi tribe reveres nature and live in harmony with it, so much so that they bury their dead (instead of burn them like other ) to preserve trees as wood is used in cremation. Maharashtra: Maharashtra has a large tribal population. The state is home to almost 50 tribes, with the main ones being Bhils, Gonds, Mahadeo Kolis, Pawras, Thakurs and Warlis. 4.0 Summary Tribal tourism is a showcase of tribal life, art, culture and heritage. Tribal tourism enables interaction between the tourists and the local residents for an enriching experience. India has a large number of tribal people who still belong to a social set-up, of which very little is known. These tribes who stay in different parts of the country are still to come out of their traditional way of life and join the mainstream. Many of these tribes have unique traditions, festivals, music and modes of artistic expression. Tourists can experience these diverse communities and their heritage, through tribal tourism. The tribal tours in India are most refreshing and energizing. The other side of tribal tourism, if not managed properly, will lead to many negative impacts on communities

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