Lifestyle of the Santal Tribe

Abstract

The ancestors of the Santals are one of the largest ethnic communities in India. According to many anthropologists, they are of Proto-Australoid origin. They are mainly found in Jharkhand, West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Meghalaya, Assam and Tripura. They are skilled in various arts including music, handicrafts and have a rich cultural heritage. Literature on their customs, traditions and culture is still scarce. The people of this community are mostly deprived of education and hence they pass on their traditions and customs orally from one generation to the next. The dances they perform, the clothes they wear, the festivals they celebrate, the deities they worship, the crafts they specialize in, the work they do have been compiled in the study. In addition, other traditional practices have been included in the study. Documentation is necessary for ethnic knowledge to avoid extinction. This study is an attempt to document the rich culture of the Santal society.

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