The day marks the birth anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda, a tribal leader and freedom fighter.
- It is celebrated on November 15th to honor contributions of tribal communities in India’s freedom struggle and their role in preserving India’s heritage.
Role of tribals in heritage preservation
Cultural Heritage
- Oral traditions and Storytelling: “U Sier Lapalang” (The Stag of Lapalang) folktale among Khasi-Pnar - highlights reverence for nature.
- Carriers of rituals, festivals and ceremonies: Eg. Hornbill Festival among Nagas aims to protect unique cultural diversity and rich traditions of Nagaland.
- Traditional crafts and art forms: E.g. Warli paintings by Warli tribes showcase deep connection between humans and nature.
- Traditional Medicine: E.g. Various plants are conserved and used as medicinal herbs for bone fracture, snake-bites, muscular pain, cure of fever, headcache, and body swelling etc.
Biodiversity Conservation
- Conservation of Protected Areas. E.g Soligas tribes in Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple (BRT) wildlife sanctuary (Karnataka) uses traditional knowledge for conservation of forest ecology
- Sacred Natural Spaces: Plants are conserved in their natural habitat by tribals due to magico-religious belief that they are habitat of god and goddess.E.g. Mawphlang Sacred Forest is protected by Khasi for >800 years for deity Labasa.
- Wildlife protection practices: E.g Bishnoi Tribes protect animals such as blackbuck, chinkara etc
India’s Initiatives
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