Every tribe is a distinctive community either migrated from another place or the original inhabitants of the land. These different tribes inhibit the different parts from the country especially the seven states of the North Eastern states – West Bangal, Orissa, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharastra, Gujarat and Rajasthan. The distinctiveness of the tribes lies in their rituals, cultures, beliefs and above all the harmony in which they survive in unison with nature. Their living perfectly depicts a well balanced give and take procedure that in no way disrupts the ecological balance.

Warm hospitality, simple ways of living and sincere judgment of the opinion is some of the traits that mark the tribal cultures of India. Their custom depicts their belief in simplicity. Most of the tribes in India have their own gods and goddesses that reflect the dependence of Tribal people on nature. Except for the few, most of the tribes in India is sociable, hospitable, and fun loving along with strong community bonds. Some of the tribes shares patriarchal cultural ties and some of the tribal societies are women oriented. They have their own festivals and celebrations. The tribal people are clinging to their identity despite of the external influences that threatened the tribal culture especially after the post independence turbulent period.

And to understand tribal’s unique cultural diversity it can be divided into three distinct categories - nomadic, semi-nomadic and settlers.

The nomadic tribes are like gypsies, always on the move, with their own cultural attitudes. They enjoy lives without caring for property anywhere and spend whatever they earn. Their life moves around rituals and conviction in the divine system. Nature has given them life and would provide things that they need, is the essence of their living.

Most of them are non-vegetarians. Right from the birth of a child, they are taught to survive in this way. Snake charmers, Kalandars etc are such nomads. Many of them know the traditional medicines which they sell for earning. They love company of animals and birds like boars, monkeys, snakes, parrot etc and earn livelihood through them. Some of them are performers with good sense of dance and music and entertain people for money to survive. Men wear traditional dhoti, kurta and turban and women usually wear Lehenga, choli and dupptta. Woman folk prefer various kinds of traditional ornaments made of silver and gold studded with different kinds of stones. Both men and woman have their own standard of morality and marry their daughters usually in the same tribe but in different groups. They worship their kuldevata (gods and goddesses of the clan). They burn the dead and especially bury the unmarried. Wine and drugs are also part of their lives.

The semi-nomadic tribe culture is slightly different, they posses movable properties and come back to their native places at regular intervals. Their birth, marriage and death rituals are thus more formal than the nomadics. Rituals play significant role in their lives and all their rituals observe some kind of sacrifice. They dress partly like nomadic and partly like settlers. Most of them are non-vegetarians, and don’t marry in the same gotra or clan but marry in the same tribal community. They worship god of the village or the forest. Every tribal within the community is recognized by their own dress, culture, art, tradition etc. Agriculture, hunting and forest produce make their livelihood and sell all sort s of art works and traditional medicines etc.

The settler tribes have their own cultural identities for centuries. It is these groups that are of more interest to the people in general and governments in particular.

They have their village or forest gods and goddesses who they offer wine and sacrifice. Right from birth to death, all their rituals include locally made wine and animal or avian sacrifices. Each and every community has its own dress code. Even the sub-tribes have their own dress codes. In the North East one can recognize a tribal community by what they wear and what art work is printed on their dress.

Both patriarchal and matriarchal social systems are prevalent in tribal communities. Ownership of properties, rituals etc are heavily tilted towards mother’s side in a matriarchal societies while male members of the house rule everything in the patriarchal societies. Both these systems influence marriage and properties. In matriarchal societies, boys’ family goes with a marriage proposal to the girl’s family. Rituals regarding death of a child and grown-ups are similar to that of semi-nomadics.

They have developed themselves to agrarian societies leaving behind hunting and wood gathering stages. They have very good knowledge of herbs and other traditional medicines and cures.

All the tribal communities believe in super natural good and evil power.

They are worshippers of rivers, trees, land, stones, or even ghosts.

Almost all tribal communities do worship their ancestors in one or the other forms.

They have traditional knowledge of jungles; natural calamities etc and every tribe have accomplished themselves with one or the other skill or art.

For tribal communities traditions and customs are above everything which they have carried forward till date. And even the government is making constant special efforts to preserve rich tribal heritage of the country. Tribals are given special constitutional status, and their traditions are awarded with due respect.