A dimension within Indigenous Nature Reverence
This theme explores the deep connection indigenous cultures have with nature, particularly forests.
150 voices speak to this
Each dimension splits this theme further — keep drilling to see how it breaks down.
Positive
Overall Community Sentiment
Our tribe is completely different from other castes. Our lifestyle and food habits are completely different. We are completely dependent on nature. We also get various food items from nature. We worship nature.
— Ram Kumari · Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh
We tribals are completely different from other castes; our ancestors used to live in forests and sustained themselves by eating fruits, flowers, etc., from the forest.
— Ram Kumari · Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh
We, the people of the tribal community, are worshippers of nature and are connected to water, forest, and land. Our culture and traditions are unwritten, which makes us different from others.
— Rupesh Maravi · Mandla, Madhya Pradesh
The tribal community is different from other communities because its lifestyle, diet, and worship methods are connected to nature.
— SUKDEV HEMBRAM · East Singhbhum, Jharkhand
We are the Kharia tribal community. And we worship the trees, pillars, and soil of the forest. And accordingly, our festivals, our language are also different. That's why we are separate.
— Anjana Khadia · Sundargarh, Odisha
Our tribe is different from other tribes because our festivals, food, lifestyle, worship, and everything else is different. We live our lives according to our own ways; our eating and drinking habits are also different, and we also eat tubers and fruits from the forests.
— Ram Kumari · Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh
Our tribe is unique because we worship nature, we worship the forest and the land.
— Kachala Choudhary
We are tribals, we are nature worshippers. We always depend on trees and plants to live. We sustain our livelihood by eating its tubers, fruits, and roots.
— PRADEEP KUMAR KANHAR · Boudh, Odisha
Our tribe is different from other castes in that we are in our forest far from the city.
— bachcha lal · Shahganj, Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh
Firstly, our lifestyle is nature-centric. Forests, hills, rivers, soil—we have a daily connection with all of these. We see nature not just as a resource, but as a life-giving companion. Secondly, our customs and traditions, traditional knowledge, festivals, songs, dances, and folk tales have made our identity unique. These cultural aspects distinguish us from other tribes. Thirdly, our collective philosophy of life—“Everyone eats together, works together, and supports each other”—this is our strength. The community is considered senior to the individual. Fourthly, our intimate connection with land, forest, and water. Considering the hills as deities, the forest as life, and wildlife as fellow travelers—this is the root of our culture. Therefore, my tribe is different from others because of: Traditional forest food and medicinal knowledge, Collective way of life, Life principles based on ancestral advice and folk tales, Religious perspective based on self-realization and natural relationships, Traditional agriculture, forest livelihood, and indigenous practices. All these elements make my tribe known as a distinct cultural, identity-rich, and glorious community.
— sudhir gamanga · Kharlingi, Housingboard Colony, Rayagada
Tribal people generally live in forests, live in hills, eat forest products, so they lead a different life from ordinary people.
— Kunakanta Behera · Dashapalla, Nayagarh, Odisha
Our community lives by building homes in the forests, hunting wild animals, and sustaining themselves by eating tamarind, mango, guava, and other produce found in the forest. Thus, they belong to a different way of life.
— bachcha lal · Shahganj, Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh
We are all tribal people, we live in forests. We collect our food from the forests. With that, we sustain ourselves. This is indeed our life's goal.
— KusaPradhani · Anakabadi, Rayagada, Odisha
The lifestyle, food, and traditions of the tribe are naturally connected to nature.
— SUKDEV HEMBRAM
We, the tribal people, worship nature. We worship trees and plants. We are always with nature.
— PRADEEP KUMAR KANHAR · Boudh, Odisha
Adivasi is neither a caste nor a pretense; it has its own civilization and culture. It relies entirely on nature. We Adivasis live in forests, live an independent life, and have a unique art of living.
— Ram Kumari · Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh
Our tribe is mainly nature-worshipping. Our culture, customs, attire, tradition, and spoken language have a distinct identity that is different from others.
— Rupesh Maravi · Mandla, Madhya Pradesh
The factors that define our tribe are mostly living around the forest, along with our dress and traditional attire.
— Sunil oraon · Ranchi, Jharkhand
Our caste lives in the jungle, far from villages and cities, and consumes things from the jungle, and that is why they are different.
— bachcha lal · Shahganj, Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh
Our tribe is different because our language and culture are different, and we are nature worshipers.
— Sukhdas Mandavi · Mohla, Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki, Chhattisgarh
The main reasons for the tribal community being distinct are their unique lifestyle, social structure, culture, and deep connection with nature.
— Anil pargi · Maliya Dokar, Banswara, Rajasthan
According to the cultural tradition here, we live in this tribal area. Our identity, food, and lifestyle are also kept distinct here. We are considered different among all Indian people.
— Anil pargi · Bargama, Dungarpur, Rajasthan
We are of the Kharia Adivasi tribe. And we worship the trees, posts, and soil of the forest. Accordingly, our festivals and our language are also different. That's why we cannot mix with other communities.
— Anjana Khadia · Sundargarh, Odisha
Our tribal Gond community are nature worshippers who protect water, forest, and land, which indeed makes our society completely different from others.
— Rupesh Maravi · Mandla, Madhya Pradesh
We are a tribal community. Our language and food are different because of our tribal identity.
— Bharati Khandapatra · Mayurbhanj, Odisha
There are many things that define our tribe, such as tribal identity, a deep connection with nature, a collective lifestyle, traditional knowledge, and our connection to folk culture.
— Hemant singh Negi · Noida, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Uttar Pradesh
Our tribal community is unique. Our tribal people are distinct because our attire, our cuisine, our lifestyle, and all our customs are different.
— Ulapi Sahu · Balangir, Odisha
Our customs, attire, traditions, spoken language, lifestyle, food habits, and culture are very different from other societies, which is an identity of the tribal community.
— Rupesh Maravi · Mandla, Madhya Pradesh
The heritage of the tribals was the forest.
— Amar Lal Dhurwey · Mandla, Madhya Pradesh
Our spoken language, attire, food, lifestyle, our culture, customs and traditions, and system are completely different from others, and it is unwritten. We, the people of the Adivasi Gond community, are worshippers of nature, which sets us apart from others.
— Rupesh Maravi · Mandla, Madhya Pradesh
Our tribe is different from other castes because its eating habits and lifestyle are distinct. Its culture, traditions, and customs are different.
— Sunil oraon · Ranchi, Jharkhand
We are indigenous people and we worship nature.
— Manjusha Marko · Dudhi, Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh
Our rituals and environment are different from other tribes.
— Sukhdas Mandavi · Mohla, Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki, Chhattisgarh
Our tribals are different from others because their lifestyle is different, customs are different, traditional food and drink are different. Musical instruments are also different.
— Sunil oraon · Ranchi, Jharkhand
We are tribals, and our food, drink, attire, dance, and music are different from other tribes.
— Bharati Khandapatra · Mayurbhanj, Odisha
Tribal communities are the protectors of nature. They take only as much from nature as is necessary to live life. They worship things associated with their lifestyle. They are committed to nature conservation, which defines them as unique.
— Vijay kanesh · Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh
Tribal communities are protectors of nature. They take only as much from nature as is necessary to live. They worship things associated with their lifestyle. They are committed to nature conservation, which defines them uniquely.
— Vijay kanesh · Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh
Our culture, customs, attire, and spoken language are our identity. We are worshippers of nature, protectors of water, forests, and land, and this very identity makes us completely different from others.
— Rupesh Maravi · Balaghat, Madhya Pradesh
Our tribe lives in the forest, far from villages and cities, and for food, they eat mahua, dori, koyna, this street, etcetera, kola.
— bachcha lal · Shahganj, Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh
Here it was said that tribal people are different from others because their lifestyle is different, customs are different, traditional food is different, and musical instruments are also different. We live in this area and are very happy and we want to live this very life.
— Anil pargi · Bargama, Dungarpur, Rajasthan