ForumIAS LATEST
- 5 August | Toppers Wrote 1000 Answers Between Prelims & Mains! | Click Here to Watch →
- 5 August | Are you the Average of the 5 People Around You by Mr. Ayush Sinha | Click Here to Watch →
- 5 August | First UPSC Mains Don't Chase AIR 1 by Mr Ayush Sinha | Click Here to Watch →
News: The Bonda tribe of Odisha continues to preserve the centuries-old Ringa weaving tradition, which remains an important symbol of its cultural identity.
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.
About Ringa Weaving Tradition
- 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.
