Tribes of Tripura

Tripura has rich cultural heritage of 19 different tribal communities. These communities are – Tripura/Tripuri, Riang, Jamatia, Noatia, Uchai, Chakma, Mog, Lushai, Kuki, Halam, Munda, Kaur, Orang, Santal, Bhil, Bhutia, Chaimal, Garo, Khasia, and Lepcha. Each community has its own unique culture including their own dance forms which are famous in the country. Long and intimate association of Poet Rabindranath Tagore with Tripura has added luster to the rich cultural heritage of the state. The state has produced the famous musicians Sachin Dev Barman and Rahul Dev Barman.Tripuri women wear a dress called Pachra, which reaches down just below the knee. They weave in their loin-loom a small piece of cloth, which they call ‘Risha’, and they wear this piece of cloth on upper portion of their body. Garia and Lebang Boomani are the two main dances of Tripuri tribes.

Chakma

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

Among Chakma there are 3(three) major groups like (i) Anokia, (ii) Tandugia, and (iii) Mangla. Linguistically Chakma language is mixed with loan words of Indu-Aryan language, Tibeto-Chainese and mainly Arakan language. Their language also be described as broken Bengali and Assamese language. Chakma have their own script in Burmese Alpha bets, though not in use rather Bengali script is being used and easy to learn.
Economic activities of Chakmas are centralized with jhum cultivation, plain land cultivation and economic supporting works of vegetable growing. Fishing and wage earning. Chakmas are also ex-pert in trapping animals. They are well known for trapping wild elephants. In Tripura, especially in Gandacherra, a large number of Chakmas live as fisherman and also as boatman in Dumbur water areas.

Jamatia

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

Jamatias are Hindus and have embraced Sakti cult and Vaishnavism. “Hoda Akra” is their supreme traditional Social Institute, which has power to look after to preserve and promote their every Social taboos, Customs and religion. All sort of social and criminal disputes in between the community members are also sorted by the ‘Hoda

Jamatias are fond of their traditional folk culture and observance of those components like Drama, Garia festival and other common dances of Kok-Borok speaking tribes

Reang

Reangs are the second largest tribal community of Tripura. 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

Reangs are still a nomadic tribe and a large numbers among them maintain their livelihood involving Top Hill Jhum Cultivation and other food gathering activities like collection of jungle fruits, leaf, plants, fishing in stagnant water in hill slopes, hunting of wild animals and birds etc. Naturally therefore, Reangs have faith on different deities like Buraha, Bonirao, Songrame, Jampira, Mangisiri, Lampra etc. There are also some female deities like Metaikotorma, Tuibuma, Mailoma, Ganga etc. Reangs, thus have believe in spirits and existence of soul. By religion they are Hindus and most of their deities are akin to god and goddesses of Hindu faith. Among Reangs followers of Vaishnavism are found in good numbers

Tripuri

Tripuris are the largest tribal community in Tripura. They have first migrated in this territory and could be introduced as aboriginal tribe of Ethnically Tripuris belong to Indo-Mongoloid origin and linguistically within the Tibeto-Burman family. They speak in Kok-Borok as like as other 7(seven) tribal groups of Tripura

Tripuris are mainly Hindus. They follow both the ShaktiCult Vaishnavism. Beside they have belief in different deities, rites and rituals traditionally followed by them from time immemorial. Garia, Kharchi, Ker are their main festivals. They have colourful folk dances like, Garia, Lebang, Musak Surmani, Tangbiti and Mamita. These dances are invigorated with sweet molodies of folk songs and music of flute, Sarinda, Champreng and other string instruments.

Once Tripuri society was controlled by the regional social councils, which had power to exercise on over all social and economic disputes among the community members. In fact the chief of these councils were selected by the then kings of Tripura. But due to democratic set up, now a days, these councils have no existence.

” these are main tribes of tribe while there are some tribesare also here in tripura state but due to illeagal bangladeshi immgriants these tribes of tripura are facing identity crises even government is shwoing any intrest in protection of there identity in recent years demand of a seprate Land is in Limelight leading by Local political parties like Tipra Motha for a seprate state Tipraland identity is very important it give us path and provide a beautiful future if you wanna know more about other tribes you can read various books and governments website i hope you liked this artical “