Published Paper Details:

The ancestors of the Santals are one of the largest ethnic community in India. According to many Anthopologists, they belong to the Proto-Australoid race.They are found mostly in Jharkhand,West Bengal, Bihar, Orissa, Assam, Chattisgarh, Meghalaya,Assam and Tripura. They are skilled in various arts including music, handicrafts and have a rich cultural heritage. They posses their own language and script which belongs to the Austro- Asiatic language group. Literature on their customs, traditions and culture are however scanty. Individuals belonging to this community are mostly deprived of education and hence pass on traditions and customs orally from one generation to the other. The dances they perform, the clothes they wear, the festivals they celebrate, the Gods they worship, the crafts they specialize in, the tasks they perform have been compiled in the study. In addition, other customary practices are included in the study. Ethnic knowledge requires documentation to avoid becoming extinct. This study is an effort to document the rich culture of the Santals society.