Tribal religions in India

{{Short description|None}} thumb|upright=1.55|Scheduled Tribes distribution map in India by state and union territory according to the 2011 Census. Roughly 8.6 percent of India's population is made up of "Scheduled Tribes" (STs), traditional tribal communities. In India, those who are not Christians, Muslims, Jews or Zoroastrians are identified as Hindus—the reason being that varied beliefs and practices are allowed in Hinduism, and it is accorded as a geographical identity rather than merely a religious one. Although many of the Scheduled Tribes have modes of worship not typical to mainstream Hinduism, they ontologically form a part of the cultural practices of the land, as nature or ancestral worship, with varying degrees of syncretism.{{cn|date=November 2024}}

According to the 2011 census of India, about 7.9 million (7,937,734) out of 1.21 billion people did not adhere to any of the subcontinent's main religious communities of Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Buddhism, or Jainism. The census listed atheists, Zoroastrians, Jews, and various specified and unspecified tribal religions separately under the header "Other Religions and Persuasions".<ref name="census2011">{{cite web |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/11398/download/14511/DDW00C-01%20Appendix%20MDDS.xlsx |format=xlsx |title=C-01 Appendix: Details of religious community shown under 'Other religions and persuasions' in main table C01 - 2011 |website=Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India |date=21 January 2021 |access-date=19 July 2023}}</ref>

Of these religious census groupings, the most numerous are Sarna (4.9 million respondents), Gondi (1 million), Sari Dharam (506,000), Donyi-Poloism (331,000); Sanamahi (222,000) and Khasi (139,000), with all other religions numbering less than 100,000 respondents, including 18,000 for "tribal religion", 5,600 for "nature religion", and 4,100 "animists".<ref name="census2011"/> The Scheduled Tribes account 89.39% (7,095,408) of total ORP in India.<ref>{{cite web|title=ST-14: Scheduled Tribe population by religious community, 2011 |publisher=Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/SCST-Series/ST14.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191114034625/https://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/SCST-Series/ST14.html |archive-date=14 November 2019}}</ref>

==Demographics== {{Historical population |1871|5102823 |1881|6426511 |1891|9280466 |1901|8584148 |1911|10295168 |1921|9774611 |1931|8280347 |1941|25441497 |1951|4985645 |footnote=Note: Colonial census data contain discrepancies due to changing political boundaries, unrecorded areas, varied methodologies, and administrative priorities of the era, wherein the religious beliefs of diverse tribal groups were clubbed under single general category, such as Animist or Tribal religion. The post-independence census publishes returns for each religious belief separately. |source=Census of India<ref>{{Citation |last=Roshan |first=Rajesh |title=Tribe, Religion, and Census of India (From 1871 to 2011) |date=2024-09-02 |work=The Routledge Handbook of Contemporary Readings on Tribe and Religions in India |pages=140–178 |url=https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/9781003516415/chapters/10.4324/9781003516415-13 |access-date=2024-12-06 |edition=1 |place=London |publisher=Routledge India |language=en |doi=10.4324/9781003516415-13 |isbn=978-1-003-51641-5|url-access=subscription }}</ref>}} {{Pie chart |caption=State/UT wise distribution of 7.9 million {{abbr|ORP|Other Religions and Persuasions}} of India, 2011 census<ref name="census2011"/> |thumb=right |value1=53.36 |label1=Jharkhand |value2=11.87 |label2=West Bengal |value3=7.55 |label3=Madhya Pradesh |value4=6.23 |label4=Chhattisgarh |value5=6.03 |label5=Odisha |value6=4.57 |label6=Arunachal Pradesh |value7=3.25 |label7=Meghalaya |value8=2.95 |label8=Manipur |value9=2.25 |label9=Maharashtra |other=yes |other-color=grey }}

{{static row numbers}}{{sort under}}{{Table alignment}}{{row hover highlight}} {|class="wikitable static-row-numbers static-row-header-text defaultleft col2right col4center hover-highlight" |+ Statistics for the other religions and persuasions, 2011 census<ref name="census2011"/><ref>{{cite web|title=ST-14 A Details Of Religions Shown Under 'Other Religions And Persuasions' In Main Table (For Each Tribe Separately) |url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/SCST-Series/ST14A.html |publisher=Office of The Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160920222100/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/SCST-Series/ST14A.html |archive-date=20 September 2016 }}</ref> ! Religious belief !! Population !! State/UT <br/>{{nobold|{{small|(significant five)}}}} !! ST Adherent <br/>(%) !! Primary ST Adherents <br/>{{nobold|{{small|(significant five)}}}} |- | Sarna || 4,957,467 || 99.98% in: Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, Bihar, Chhattisgarh || 92.61 || Santal, Oraon, Ho, Munda, Lohar |- | Gond/ Gondi|| 1,026,344 || 99.97% in: Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand || 98.45 || Gond, Pardhan, Baiga, Agaria, ''Generic tribe'' |- | Sari Dharma || 506,369 || 100% in: West Bengal || 97.42 || Santal, Kora, Bhumij, Mahli, ''Generic tribe'' |- | Doni Polo/ Sidonyi Polo|| 331,370 || 99.96% in: Arunachal Pradesh, Assam || 98.79 || Nyishi, Galong, Adi, Tagin, Apatan |- | Sanamahi|| 222,422 || 99.95% in: Manipur || 0.32 || Kabui, Maring, ''Generic tribe'' |- | Khasi|| 138,512 || 99.98% in: Meghalaya || 98.23 || Khasi, Mikir, Dimasa, ''Generic tribe'' |- | Adivasi|| 86,877 || 96.32% in: Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat || 94.94 || Oraon, Gond, Halba, Kharwar, Bhil |- | Niamtre|| 84,276 || 99.98% in: Meghalaya || 96.05 || Khasi, Synteng, Pawi, ''Generic tribe'' |- | Adi Dharam|| 82,255 || 100% in: Odisha, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal || 97.46 || Oraon, Nagesia, Korwa, Gond, Munda |- | Adim dhamm || 57,022 || 99.98% in: Chhattisgarh || 97.48 || Gond, Halba |- | ''Atheist''|| 33,304 || 82.15% in: Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu || 46.43 || Khasi, Bhil, Garo |- | Bidin || 29,553 || 98.76% in: Jharkhand || 98.89 || Santal, Sauria Paharia, Mal Paharia, ''Generic tribes'' |- | Adi || 24,381 || 98.73% in: Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh || 96.25 || Oraon, Kolha, Nagesia, Gond, Kisan |- | Songsarek|| 19,834 || 99.84% in: Meghalaya || 97.13 || Garo, ''Generic tribe'' |- | Yumasam|| 19,093 || 99.86% in: Sikkim, West Bengal || 92.68 || Limboo, Limbu (Subba), ''Generic tribe'' |- | Tribal religion|| 17,393 || 96.84% in: Arunachal Pradesh, Karnataka, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh || 83.52 || Mishmi, Nocte, Kaman/Miju Mishmi, Miji |- | Rangfra|| 10,598 || 100% in: Arunachal Pradesh || 96.46 || Tangsa, Longchang Tangsa, Naga, Moglum Tangsa, Taisen Tangsa |- | Heraka|| 9,956* || 99.95% in: Manipur, Nagaland, Assam || 122.2 || |- | Santal || 6,485 || 99.11% in: West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, Bihar || 84.19 || Santal, ''Generic tribe'' |- | ''Nature Religion''|| 5,635 || 98.49% in: Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand || 92.28 || Khond, Gond, Mal Paharia, Korwa, Baiga |- | Baháʼí Faith|| 4,572 || 58.81% in: Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Odisha, West Bengal || 11.81 || Kunbi, Kokna |- | Nani Intiya || 4,528 || 100% in: Arunachal Pradesh || 98.9 || Mishmi |- | ''Animist''|| 4,130 || 98.26% in: Sikkim, West Bengal, Nagaland || 11.07 || Naga |- | Dupub || 3,326 || 99.97% in: Odisha, Jharkhand || 97.9 || Ho, Kol, Kolha |- | Birsa|| 2,395 || 99.87% in: Jharkhand || 97.66 || Munda |- | Fralung|| 2,381 || 100% in: Assam || 4.07 || ''Generic tribe'' |- | Pagan|| 2,088* || 99.95% in: Meghalaya, Manipur, Nagaland || 106.37 || Garo, Poumai Naga, Naga |- | Baiga || 1,884 || 99.79% in: Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh || 96.92 || Baiga |- | Tadvi|| 1,786 || 99.1% in: Maharashtra || 96.64 || Bhil, Dhanka |- | Nocte|| 1,511 || 99.47% in: Arunachal Pradesh || 97.49 || Nocte |- | Sarnam || 1,494 || 99.8% in: Jharkhand, Odisha || 93.04 || Bhumij |- | Ho || 1,418 || 95.77% in: Jharkhand, Odisha || 84.41 || Ho |- | Nyarino || 1,365 || 100% in: Arunachal Pradesh || 96.92 || Aka |- | Budhadeo || 1,345 || 99.18% in: Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh || 67.88 || Gond |- | Bhil || 1,323 || 98.34% in: Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan || 67.57 || Bhil |- | {{nat|A.C.}} || 1,317 || 94.76% in: Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu || 67.81 || Bhil |- | Traditional religion|| 1,239 || 98.87% in: Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh || 95.8 || Mikir |- | Intaya || 1,208 || 99.92% in: Arunachal Pradesh || 99.34 || Mishmi |- | Tana Bhagat|| 1,108 || 99.91% in: Jharkhand || 96.39 || Oraon |- | Oraon || 1,091 || 82.68% in: Jharkhand, West Bengal || 82.13 || Oraon, ''Generic tribe'' |- | Munda || 1,086 || 96.32% in: Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha || 87.02 || Munda |}

==Customs== The tribal people observe their festivals, which have no direct conflict with any religion, and they conduct marriage among them according to their tribal custom. They have their own way of life to maintain all privileges in matters connected with marriage and succession, according to their customary tribal faith.{{citation needed|date=November 2021}} In keeping with the nature of Indian religion generally, these particular religions often involve traditions of ancestor worship or worship of spirits of natural features.<ref>National Council of Educational Research and Training. "Social and Political Life - III". Publication Department, NCERT, 2009, p.83.</ref>

The various tribes can be categorised into different major linguistic groupings, such as Indo-Aryan, Dravidian, Austroasiatic, Tibeto-Burman, and Andamanese.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-09-24 |title=Tribal Languages in India – Introduction (1/4) |url=https://www.wordsinthebucket.com/indian-tribal-languages-1 |access-date=2023-08-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190924051948/https://www.wordsinthebucket.com/indian-tribal-languages-1 |archive-date=2019-09-24 }}</ref>

About 25% of the Munda people and Oraon people, and 60% of the Kharia people of Jharkhand (population about 130,000), are Christian. Altogether, 43% of Kharia population is Hindu while 46% is Christian. However, almost two-thirds (63%) of the Santhal, over 40% of Munda and Ho tribal population are Hindus. Tribal groups in the Himalayas were similarly affected by both Hinduism and Buddhism in the late 20th century. The small hunting-and-gathering groups in the union territory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands have been under severe pressure of cultural assimilation.<ref name=tr>{{cite web|url=http://countrystudies.us/india/57.htm|title=The Green Revolution in India|work=U.S. Library of Congress (released in public domain)|publisher=Library of Congress Country Studies|access-date=2007-10-06}}</ref>

==Recognition== According to the Indian legal system, all the native or indigenous religions of India fall broadly under Hinduism, since the constitution does not classify only Vedic religions as Hinduism as used in the colloquial norm. The term "Hindu" is derived from Persian meaning "Indo" (or Indian), hence the official word "Hinduism" broadly refers to all the native cultures of the Indian subcontinent. The 1955 Hindu Marriage Act "[defines] as Hindus anyone who is not a Christian, Muslim, or Jew".<ref>{{citation |last=Cavanaugh |first=William T. |year=2009 |title=The Myth of Religious Violence : Secular Ideology and the Roots of Modern Conflict: Secular Ideology and the Roots of Modern Conflict |publisher=Oxford University Press |page=88 |url=https://archive.org/details/mythofreligiousv0000cava |url-access=registration |doi=10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195385045.001.0001}}</ref>

== List of Tribal Religions in India == {{unsourced section|date=April 2025}} * Northeast India ** Donyi-Polo ** Sanamahi ** Songsarek ** Ka Niam Khasi ** Kundimama ** Niamtre ** Rangfrah ** Heraka ** Wancho Religion ** Nocte Religion ** Tiwa Religion ** Ahom religion ** Keoliya ** Daikhoism ** Aronban ** Lokhimon ** Sat Sang ** Honghari ** Cumulang ** Dyaoism ** Siangsawn Pasian ** Krama Religion ** Sanamahism ** Sari Dharam * East India ** Bon ** Kiratism ** Yumaism ** Sarna ** Sari Dharam ** Onge Religion ** Jarawa Religion * Central India ** Koyapunem

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tribal Religions In India}} Category:Indian religions Category:Scheduled Tribes of India Category:Asian shamanism