Nestling on the eastern coast of India, Orissa is one of
the most exquisite regions dominated by exotic sandy beaches, plenteous wild
life, and holy temples famous for their architectural splendor and primitive
lifestyle. The charm of the city is still well- nigh chaste and unrevealed
by the visitors, up to its full extent. The other lure of the city lies in
its tribal population dotted with more than 62 tribal communities. The
tribal communities of Orissa constitute about 23% of its total population.
Orissa is inhabited by tribes like Saora or Sabar that had a respectable
mentioning in the epic of Mahabharata.
Mostly the Orissa tribes are high land habitats with opulent ethnic trait,
cultures and customs dominated by varying languages. The culture conscious
tribes are able to preserve their social customs and dignified values. The
most primitive tribes are Bondas, Gadabas, Koyas, Kondhas and Sauras.
Tribal Culture
The culture of tribal Orissa is affluent with their own folk songs and
dances, their tattoos. Tribal culture of Orissa is well depicted in its
modern city in form of poems, art and craft or music.
The tribes have adapted the Hindu traditions and culture from centuries,
which is mixed with their own culture giving a distinct zest to the entire
racial. Songs and dances are the essence of the tribal culture of Orissa.
The traditions and the ceremonies for wedding, birth and death all are
represented by singing songs, rural dances along with feasts.
The Tribal Folk
Orissan tribes are strong, assiduous and simple hospitable tribes, normally
like to be reserved and maintain distance from the people of other
communities, as they are too shy. The major occupation of these tribes is
agriculture and fishing and hunting. Men usually wear loin attire and women
rap long stretch of cloth around them. Women are adorned with ornaments like
bangles, armlets, bracelets, necklaces, rings, hairpins etc usually made of
silvers, aluminum, and brass. The practice of tattooing is prevalent among
women folk. Girls above 5 years are found with tattoo mark on their faces
and hands.
Festival Celebration
Numbers of deities are worshiped by the tribes for their happy life. Many
festivals are also celebrated with much of enthusiasm and excitement. The
ceremony rituals are observed through out the year in order to appease their
deities and ascendant.
The most significant festival of the year are the chaita parab and push
parab- this day all able men of the village go on a hunting expedition. The
tribes with their cultural dance, song and music all distinguish custom of
their artistic life, which demarcate them from the other non tribal groups.
Orissa acquire every thing
Orissa is a state, embellished with hilly terrain of the Eastern Ghats,
where primitive tribes dwell and a beautiful stretch of the Indo-Aryans
coast where modern life persists. A blend of 2 discrete civilization with
contrast cultures, beautiful landscapes, beaches, rich wildlife, offers the
best of India to its visitors.


