Maram Tribe, Manipur

Places like Senapati district, Tadubi and Kangpokpi region in Manipur are home to numerous tribes. Anthropologists from all around have studied the traits and features of the people of Maram tribal community.The Maram tribal people possess Mongoloid and Caucasoid features. Like other tribes of Manipur, the history of Maram tribes is also associated with numerous legends and mythologies.

Village & Dialect
The village of these tribes is divided into numerous 'Sadung' or 'Khel'. Each of these 'Khels' has a separate entrance. There are different dormitories for boys and girls. The dialect that Maram tribes used to speak is known as Maram Khullel. It is interesting to note that while all the other people of tribe speak the same tongue, the village Senapati uses a different one. Though the language used by the village Senapati is not completely different, it has a different mode of expression.

Men & Women
Males of the Maram tribe are usually engaged in farming. Another interesting aspect of the men is that they take care of most of household work including collection of water and firewood. Women of the tribe are only responsible for cooking and looking after the child. Women does, however, lend a hand in digging the fields so that men can sow and harvest.

Dresses & Costumes
Males of the Maram tribal community can be seen wearing black cotton skirt decorated with white cowries arranged in 3-4 rows. Women also wear an inner loin cloth, which resembles male dresses. White robe or shawls (more recently) are used by women to cover their bodies.

Festivals & Rituals
No tribe is devoid of customs, traditions and festivals. Maram tribes too have a number of festivals to celebrate. These include Ponghi, Kanghi and Rakakkou. Singing is a part and parcel of these tribal festivals in which both men and women participate. The tribe also celebrates a name-giving ritual. After 5-7 days of birth, the newly born is held in the direction of sun. Later, the father of the baby fetches a crab within 10 days. The head of the family gives their blessings. Some purification rituals follow and then the baby becomes an accepted and full fledged member of the family. It is ideal to fix marriages through negotiations.

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Chiru Tribe, Manipur

The state of Manipur in north eastern India provides shelter a number of tribes and tribal communities. One of the popular Manipur tribes is the Chiru Tribe. Steeped in history and mythology, Chiru tribal community inhabit various districts of Manipur – Senapati, Tamenglong and Bishnupur. The word 'Chiru' means 'the seed of a plant'. In terms of lifestyle and culture, the Chiru tribe have some similarity with the Naga tribal community. Due their distinguished physical features, anyone can recognise the people belong to the Chiru tribal community.

Chirus have contributed to the Manipuri culture. These tribals have their own customs and traditions both in dance and musical recitals. Chiru tribes of Manipur follow unique living style patterns. In this tribal community, bachelors and unmarried women are provided with separate quarters. The people of the Chiru tribe actually have their connections with Kuki family tribal group.

Most of the people belonging to the Chiru tribes have adopted farming as their major profession. The rugged terrains of the mountains prove to be just perfect for doing shifting and wet farming. Chiru tribal community is also involved in the growth and trading of fruits like bananas, oranges, lemon and papaya. These fruits do not only serve their food requirements but also help them earn. In addition, the Chiru tribes of Manipur are also known to specialise in cottage industries. The tribe prepare a range of household products from cane.

People of the Chiru tribal community also display great craftsmanship in the field of weaving and carpentry. In a nutshell, Chiru tribe has greatly contributed in enriching the cultural ethnicity of whole of Manipur in northeastern India.

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Lambani Tribe (Western India)

Lambanis lead a gypsy life and mainly inhabit the western Indian states including Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. A part of this tribal community is also found in the northern region of Karnataka. The Lambani tribe of India speak a language which is believed to have been originated in the state of Rajasthan. Earlier, Lambanis used to supply grains to armies. In the olden days, the Lambani people carried grain, salt, bamboos and firewood. The tribal community used oxen to carry heavier commodities.

Lambani tribal women
Women of Lambani tribes wear decorated clothes or fabrics. Jewellery is also an essential part of these tribal women's lifestyle. Women wear bone-made finger rings, bangles and bracelets. In addition, they adorn their hair with flowers and balls. These tribal women mostly wear thick aprons which are interwoven with cotton thread through needle work. The thick apron remains suspended from the west (downwards) while bodice makes up for the upper.

Lambani tribal men
A coarse turban forms the headgear of a Lamabani tribal man. Men of the Lambani tribes are mostly seen dressed up in tight breeches, which extend a few inches below the knee.

Lambani tribals keep travelling
People of Lambani tribes keep moving from place to place. Noticed usually in groups, people of this tribal community earn their daily bread by selling clothes at local markets and on beaches. When the Lambani tribe inhabited the forest region of the southern India, they were also referred to as the bee-keeping caste.

People of the Lambani tribal community worship Goddess Shakti.

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Aimol Tribes of Manipur

Aimol tribes of India inhabit mainly in two districts of Manipur, one of the seven sister Northeastern states. Their population is distributed in most of the villages of Chandel and Churachandanpur districts. The name Aimol has been derived from a word which means roots. 'Ai' is a small ginger like plant which is found in the areas of 'Mol'. This area is located in the hills of Aizawl, the capital city of Mizoram.

Aimol tribes of Manipur live in their traditionally made houses of bamboo, wood and mud. The roof is made of thatch in a slanting style. Most of the Aimol families are nuclear and comprise parents and children. This tribal society generally follow monogamous and patriarchal system. Aimol tribes of Manipur mainly depend upon agriculture and allied activities. Their main agricultural products are paddy, maize, soyabean, pumpkin and chilly. Other than this, they also depend on livestock rearing and weaving to earn their livelihood. Buffalo, pig, ox and hen are some of the animals which they domesticate.

Most of the Aimol tribes of India have adopted Christianity. But before adopting Christianity around three decades ago, they used to believe in many spirits and deities. They used to worship several deities for several reasons like Sailing and Bonglei as the protector of their village and pregnant women used to worship Arkun Pathian, which is considered as the Goddess of fertility. Their dressing sense, cloths, living habits, traditions and beliefs have resemblance with Chothes tribe, who are their neighbours.

Population of Aimol tribes of India is about 2,500 in numbers and they speak Aimol language. Some of the Aimol tribes of Manipur have also settled down in Mizoram and Tripura.

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Jarawa Tribes of Andaman

Jarawa is one of the tribal communities inhabiting in Andaman and Nicobar islands. It is believed that the ancestors of Jarawa tribes were part of the migrated people out of Africa. Jarawa tribes of Andaman still hunt pigs and monitor lizards with bows and arrows to make their livelihood. Jarawas also gather berries, seeds and honey from the forests. They mostly restrict themselves to their jungle dwellings but some of them have now started mingling with the people or nearby villages and towns.

The population of Jarawa tribes of Andaman is dwindling with the passage of time. Jarawas of Andaman islands are left with around 400 people in their community, at present. Most of the Jarawas died because of epidemic diseases like measles. Construction of roads inside their territory in forests became the greatest threat for their survival as many people started encroaching their lands. People from other parts of Andaman and Nicobar Islands have started inhabiting near to the areas where Jarawas live in their dwelling in the forests. Poaching of honey and other fruits like bananas the outsiders has also made a bad affect on their survival.

Jarawa tribes are inhabiting in South Andaman Islands and Western Coast of Middle Andaman Islands. Some of them still lead a nomadic life in forests. Most of them live in temporary huts built by woods and leaves found in the forests. Crude crafts are used by Jarawas to cross streams and creeks. Sometimes they also make attacks on intruders inside their territory.

These tribes speak Jarawa language but some of them who are getting in contact with other people have also picked up few Hindi words. As no prominent influence of any other languages of the region is seen in Jarawa language, it can be one of the reasons that these tribes remained secluded for a very long period.

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Sammakka Saarakka Medaram Jatra : India's Largest Tribal Fair

The four day long Sammakka Saarakka Medaram Jatra is the largest tribal fair of India. It is celebrated once in two years at Medaram village in Warangal district of Andhra Pradesh. Medaram village is situated about 100 km away from Warangal city, amid dense jungles. Sammakka Saarakka Medaram Jatra attracts millions of tribals from different states of India like Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Chhatisgarh.

The festival is celebrated in the Magha month, as per the Hindi calendar, on the full moon day. Sarakka goddess, in the form of vermilion, is brought from the neighbouring village Kanneboyinapalle and placed on the platform made under a tree. The main Goddess, Sammakka, is also brought from a nearby village Chilukalagutta in a great procession. According to a legend Sammakka and Saarakka were Koya women warriors who were killed by the army while fighting against Pratapa Rudra.

Sammakka Saarakka Jatra is also known by the name of tribal Kumbh Mela and all the tribes gathered here take dip in the Jampanna Vagu, a small rivulet, to get purified and absolve from sins. After that devotees pay their obeisance and worship Goddesses Sarakka and Sammakka with the belief that they will bring prosperity and happiness in their lives with miraculous and divine powers. Girls offer prayers to the Goddesses for good life partners and couples to bless them with children.

Tribes have a ritual of weighing themselves against Jaggery and after that it is offered to the Goddess. Apart from this they also sacrifice thousands of goats and cocks on the name of deities as per the rituals and beliefs. Devotees dressed in beautiful attires sing hymns in praise of their deities.

The sanctum sanctorum of Jatara site, Gaddelu, is thronged by devotees to the fullest. A number of temporary dwellings also spring up to accommodate the devotees from far away places.

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