Different Tribes of Tripura
Bhil : Tribes of Tripura | |
Bhills are considered as one of the oldest tribe in India. Once they were the ruler in parts of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Malwa, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar. They are a cross section of great Munda race and a wild tribe of India. Bhills could be identified as one of the Dravidian racial tribe of Western India and belong to Austroloid group of tribes. They speak a language of Dravidian origin. In Tripura total Bhill population is 2,336 as per 2001 Census. This tribe has migrated to Tripura from central India mainly from Bihar and Madhya Pradesh. Their economy is centralized with Tea garden, Brickfield and Agriculture. Their major concentrations in Tripura are mainly in Akinpur of Belonia, Bagan Bazar of Khowai Sub-Division. They are also found in North Tripura working in Tea gardens. Bhills are Hindus by religion. They appease deities of forest and evil spirits beside pujas of Lord Shiva and Durga. Small percentages among them follow Christianity. They cremate their dead followed series of rites as per their traditional customs and believe. Bhills are also fond of dance and music with traditional tune of Flute and Drum. In all family and community ceremonies they enjoy whole night by drinking and dancing. Bhills in other part of the country are well literate and enjoy modern weave of life. |
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Bhutia : Tribes of Tripura | |
Bhutias are Himalayan tribe and negligible in Tripura. They are similar to that of Lepchas in terms of racial identity, Linguistic affinity and religious activities. In Tripura Bhutias once were used to be engaged in the Royal Army for their warrior character and physical strength. But in course of time they left Tripura to their original homeland. Presently under 2001 Census they are only 29 persons in Tripura. Most of them in Tripura are in Govt. job like paramilitary. Few families are however permanent residents of Tripura. Their relatives also reside outside the State. |
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Chaimal : Tribes of Tripura | |
Chaimal is a smallest tribal group of Tripura. As per 2001 Census, their total population is only 226 persons. Their main concentration is at Ambassa of Dhalai District. They call themselves as "Saimar". Chaimals belong to the Cocaso-Mongoloid origin. They speak in a language originated from Kuki-Chin group of language. Chaimal language has no difference with that of Halams. They can understand and speak Kok-Borok, Chaimal live on Jhum cultivation as well use plain land cultivation. They are Hindus and follow all rites and rituals as per Hindu customs. Due to modern weave of life, some literate persons of this community have taken Christianity as their religion. Like other tribes, they have separate form of dance, folk songs and music though performances are very occasional. |
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Chakma : Tribes of Tripura | |
Chakmas are one of the major tribes of Tripura according to their population strength. Chakmas are known to be a tribe of South-East Asia. They have first migrated to Arakan Hills of Bruma and then Chittagong Hill Tracts to Tripura. A major part of them however migrated to Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh in course of time from their original homeland. According to Census Report of 2001 Chakma population in Tripura is 61,793. |
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Garo : Tribes of Tripura | |
Basically Garos are one of the immigrant tribe in Tripura. Their original homeland were at Meghalaya (Garo Hills), Kamrup, Goal Para etc. places of Assam and Mymansing of Bangladesh. Migration of this tribe took place during the 1st half of 19th Century. Their major migration took place after 1950. At present their population is 11,180 in Tripura. Their major concentrations are at Udaipur Sub-Division and Sadar Sub-Division of Tripura. Ethnically Garos are a tribe of Tibeto-Burman linguistic family and under Mongoloid racial stock. They are very much familiar with the tribes like Bodo-Cacheries, Ravas, Mikir and other North-East tribes. |
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Halam : Tribes of Tripura | |
Ethnically Halam belong to the Cocase-Mongoloid origin of Kuki-Chin tribes. Their language is also more or less similar to that of Tibeto-Burman family. Halams are also known as Mila Kuki, though they are not at all Kukis in terms of language, culture and living style. Halams are divided into several sub-clans which is referred as "Barki-Halam". Major sub-clans of Halams are (1) Kaloi, (2) Kor-Bong, (3) Keipeng, (4) Bong, (5) Saka Chep, (6) Thanga chep, (7) Dab, (8) Bongser (9) Rupini, (10) Hrangkhawl, (11) Chorai, (12) Langai, (13) Kaireng, (14) Ranglong, (15) Naveen and (16) Khulang. Among these tribes, as per 2001 Census their total population is 47,261 and distributed through out the State. |
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Jamatia : Tribes of Tripura | |
Jamatia is another tribal group of Tripura, having distinct feature of Mongoloid Origin. Their language is also similar with that of Tripuris. So they speak in Kok-Borok, which is a language of Tibeto-Burman family. As per 2001 Census their population in Tripura is 74,949 and treated as 4th largest tribal group of Tripura. |
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Khashia : Tribes of Tripura | |
Khasias belong to Austro-Asiatic racial stock and their language could be grouped under Mon-Kher groups of language. They are famous for their matrilineal society. |
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Kuki : Tribes of Tripura | |
Kuki is a word pronounced by outside people to refer a group of tribes like Darlong and Lusai. The Lusai of Tripura used to live in Jampui and Shakan Hills of North Tripura. They call them as Mizos. They never call them Lusai as the word 'LU' means Head and 'SAI' means cutting (Head Hunter). Though once they were treated as headhunter. |
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Lepcha : Tribes of Tripura | |
Lepcha is a tribe of Himalayan range live at the North-East corner of India. They largely resides at Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Bhutan, Sikkim and Darjeeling. They have also migrated in other North-Eastern States for economic reason. Lepchas live on rearing large number of cattle and milch cows besides cultivation of Agricultural and Horticultural crops. |
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Lushai : Tribes of Tripura | |
Lusai is another tribe under Kuki-Chin group of tribes. Their main concentration is under Kanchanpur Sub-Division of North Tripura District. Lusais are commonly known as Mizos. Racially they are known to be under Mongoloid origin. In Tripura they are 4,777 persons as per 2001 Census. Their culture is as like as Mizos. Jumpui Hill is Lusai's homeland. Lusai live on Jhum Cultivation and hunting of wild animal. They eat meat of any kind of animals and birds. They are also famous as orange producing community. Before others Lusai are known as Head Hunter community. During 1st part of 19th Century most of the Lusai's converted as Christian and still follow Christianity as their religion. |
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Mog : Tribes of Tripura | |
In Tripura as per 2001 Census Mogs are 30,385 persons. Their major concentrations are at Subroom and Belonia. Mogs are Arakan tribe and migrated to Tripura through Chittagong Hill Tracts. By religion they are Buddhist. Their language is grouped under Tibeto-Chainese family, which has also linked with Assam-Burmese section of language. |
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Munda : Tribes of Tripura | |
Mundas are the central Indian tribe and recognized as an immigrant tribe in Tripura. Original homeland of Mundas was at Chota Nagpur. Mundas are Proto-Australoid tribe. Mundari is their language, which is belongs to Austro-Asiatic family. |
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Noatia : Tribes of Tripura | |
Noatias are one of the important tribal groups in Tripura. Though they are a part of Tripuris still they are treated as 'New Comers'. In fact Noatias had been at Arakan Hill Tracts for a long time be-fore they have migrated to the South part of Tripura via Chittagong Hill Tracts. Ethnically Noatias have similar Origin of other Mongoloid tribes and their language is also Kok-Borok. It is said that Noatias is not their actual tribe name. They were actually Tripuris. Legend says that once a furious war was happened in between the then Tripura king and Arakan king. In that battle Arakan king took lead and captured hundreds of Tripuri army. They had to stay at Arakan. During their stay they had contact with the local tribals for which their language and culture were changed to some extent. Till now in the life and culture of Noatias influence of their old culture are still found in their physical structure, skin color, food habit, language, rites and rituals. |
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Orang : Tribes of Tripura | |
Orang is an immigrant tribe, migrated to this territory from Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal. This tribe in Tripura mainly resides in Sadar North and in major Tea garden areas. Orange is plain tribe. They mainly depend on Agriculture, Plantation works of Tea garden and as labourers of Brickfields. As per 2001 Census Orang are only 6,223 persons in the State. Orangs live in clustered village wherein there may be 30 to 50 families. They built their houses with mud wall, chan grasses and bamboos. They do not keep any window in their dwelling house and always keep their houses neat and clean. |
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Reang : Tribes of Tripura | |
Reangs are the second largest tribal community of Tripura. They are recognized as one of the 75 primitive tribes in India. Numerically as per 2001 Census they are 1,65,103 persons in this State. Reangs are said to have came first from Shan State of upper Burma (now Myanmar) in different weaves to the Chittagong Hill Tracts and then Southern part of Tripura. Similarly another group entered Tripura via Assam and Mizoram during 18th Century. |
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Santal : Tribes of Tripura | |
Santals are among the immigrant tribes in Tripura. They belong to Austro-Asiatic racial stock. Their original homelands are in west Bengal, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh. They have migrated to this state as Tea garden labourers. As per 2001 Census Santals are only 2,151 persons in Tripura. They mainly concentrated in Simna and Mechliban Tea Garden areas of Sadar Sub-Division and other places in the State. Their main occupation is to work in Tea garden area. |
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Tripuri : Tribes of Tripura | |
Tripuris are the largest tribal community in Tripura. They have first migrated in this territory and could be introduced as aboriginal tribe of Tripura. Numerically as per 2001 Census they are 5, 43,843 person in the State and Tripuris numerically highest in number among all the tribal groups. Tripura was under rule of Tripuri Kings till it is merged with Indian Dominion in the year 1949. |
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Uchui : Tribes of Tripura | |
Uchai is a separate tribe, live in Tripura since time immemorial. They have migrated in Tripura from Arakan Hills of Burma. As per 2001 Census Uchais are only 2,103 persons in this state and concentrated mainly in Amarpur and Belonia Sub-Divisions. Language and culture of Uchais are also similar with other Kok-Borok speaking tribes like Reang, Tripuris, Jamatias etc. Uchais also live in Tong (Gaireng) house built out or chan grass and bamboos. |