Bonda Tribe and Ringa Weaving Tradition

About Bonda Tribe

• The Bonda tribe is one of India’s oldest Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), known for preserving its distinct cultural traditions.
• Location: They are exclusively found in the Malkangiri district of Odisha and are mainly concentrated in the Khairaput block.
• Key Aspects:
  • Other Names: The tribe is also known as Bondo, Bondas, Bonda Paraja, and Bhonda.
  • Population: The tribe has a population of about 7,000 people.
  • Origin: They are considered among the first settlers in India, with Austroasiatic lineage.
  • Language: They speak Remo, an Austroasiatic language that is different from mainstream Indian languages.
  • Art and Culture: The tribe is known for making decorative tools, utensils, colourful fabrics, and jewellery.
  • Ringa Weaving Tradition: Bonda women preserve the tradition of weaving the Ringa, which represents their cultural identity and is passed from one generation to another.

• Ringa Weaving Tradition: It is a handwoven wraparound skirt that has remained the central symbol of Bonda cultural identity for generations.
• Geographic Region: It is practised in the Malkangiri district of Odisha.
• Key Aspects:
  • Cultural Importance: It is mainly woven for personal and community use rather than trade.
  • Design: It is recognized for its bold horizontal stripes in red, maroon, black, white, and blue, and it is made for everyday use with durable fabric.
  • Materials: It was earlier woven from bark fibre of the Kerang tree, but cotton yarn gradually replaced it, while its visual identity remained unchanged.
  • Women learn weaving from their mothers and grandmothers and continue the tradition across generations.