Key Points on the Dongria Kondh Tribe:
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Location:
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Reside in the Niyamgiri Hills, Odisha, India.
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Cultural Practices:
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Worship Niyam Raja, their supreme deity.
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Practice podu cultivation, growing millets, pineapple, turmeric, and vegetables.
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Speak the Kui language, an ancient Dravidian tongue.
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Distinctive Attire and Adornments:
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Minimal traditional clothing; women wear cloth wraps, while men wear loincloths and colourful turbans.
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Jewelry: Metallic nose pins, multiple earrings, and body tattoos are prevalent among both genders.
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Resistance Movement:
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Gained global attention for their opposition to Vedanta Resources’ bauxite mining project in the Niyamgiri Hills.
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Won a legal battle in 2013 when the Supreme Court upheld their right to decide on mining in their region.
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Modern Challenges and Adaptations:
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Adoption of smartphones and limited urban influences.
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Balancing modernity with traditional values while preserving their identity and natural surroundings.
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List of Other Tribes and Their Regions:
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Gonds:
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Region: Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Maharashtra
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Known for their art and mythological storytelling.
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Santhals:
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Region: Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha
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Primarily agrarian; famous for their tribal dances and music.
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Toda:
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Region: Nilgiri Hills, Tamil Nadu
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Known for their distinct embroidery and buffalo herding.
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Bhils:
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Region: Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh
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Skilled in archery; significant contributors to folk art and paintings.
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Jarawas:
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Region: Andaman Islands
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Indigenous tribe with a hunter-gatherer lifestyle; minimal contact with the outside world.
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Bodos:
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Region: Assam
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Known for their weaving skills and involvement in movements for political autonomy.
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Irulas:
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Region: Tamil Nadu and Kerala
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Snake and rat catchers by tradition, also engage in small-scale agriculture.
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Warli:
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Region: Maharashtra
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Renowned for Warli painting, depicting tribal life and beliefs.
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Munda:
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Region: Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal
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Known for their traditional dances and involvement in agrarian practices.
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Konyaks:
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Region: Nagaland
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Known for their warrior culture and unique face tattoos.
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Each of these tribes contributes uniquely to India’s diverse cultural tapestry and is shaped by its environmental, historical, and social contexts.