Tribes & Tribal Life of Odisha
Dedicated tribal settlements, villages and towns are some of the main components of Odisha’s social formation, with a total of 62 tribes, each having both sharp distinctions and some common characteristics. In fact, Odisha’s tribal population constitute more than 22.5% of the State's total population, and 9.7% of the nation's total tribal population. Below listed are some of Odisha’s major tribes, especially famous for their culture, ethos, diversity, costumes and others.
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Tribes & Tribal People of Odisha
Bonda Tribe
Residing in the quaint hills of Malkangiri District, these primitive tribes are one of the most popular tribal communities in the State, and particularly stand out from the rest owing to their typical attire, long strands of beaded necklaces, metal ornaments, and graceful postures.
Gadaba Tribe
Another vibrant and colourful tribe of Odisha, the origins of Gadaba allegedly date back to the Ramayan era. Classified as speakers of Mundari of Kolarian language, these tribes are distributed across varied Districts of the State, including Koraput, Khurdha, Rayagada, Malkangiri, Kalahani etc. with Koraput sheltering the highest number of Gadaba population.
Gond Tribe
Speaking the Gondi-Dravadian language, they are a part of the Kalahandi and Koraput Districts, and are considered to be a warrior tribe, known for their distinctive dress, habits and customs. They’re also spread across the hills of Balangir, Sundargarh, and Sambalpur.
Juang Tribe
This very diverse, unique and distinctive ‘jungle tribe’ can be found in the Dhenkanal and Keonjhar interior parts of Odisha. Belonging to the Munda ethnic group, this community claims to have no tribal traditions, and are quite skilled in creative basket-making.
Kondh Tribe
Forming one of the largest tribes of Odisha, they are the ones who have a deep knowledge and adoration for the hills, mountains, trees, forests, plants and nature. In fact, they even worship the various creations of nature, including hills & mountains, and can be easily distinguished from their facial tattoos, jewellery and attractive. They reside in the Niyamgiri Hill Range.
Oraon Tribe
Considered to be a progressive, prosperous tribal group, unlike the others, this community are the ones who have adopted modern approaches of agriculture, using modern science, improved seed varieties and pesticides too for their cultivation and livelihood activities. This agrarian tribe of Odisha are also pretty modern in their life approach, and can be found in the Sambalpur, Sundergarh, Jharsuguda, Deogarh and Keonjhar regions of the State.
Santhal Tribe
This fascinating tribal community are a Munda ethnic group, and are considered to be very fun-loving, as well as possessing a keen eye for beauty. They especially love music and dance, as well as are known for their clean decorative habits, exquisite artwork, and weaving as well.
Sauora
Another ancient tribe of the State and the country, the Sauora tribal community carry their mention in the Hindu epics of Mahabharata and Ramayana. Known to be master artists, forest dwellers and incredible climbers, they are also widely popular for their wall murals and art inspirations, including scrolls, textiles and metal art.
