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.

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".

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". The Scheduled Tribes account 89.39% (7,095,408) of total ORP in India.

Demographics

+ Statistics for the other religions and persuasions, 2011 census Religious belief Population State/UT ST Adherent (%) Primary ST Adherents 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 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. 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.National Council of Educational Research and Training. "Social and Political Life - III". Publication Department, NCERT, 2009, p.83.

The various tribes can be categorised into different major linguistic groupings, such as Indo-Aryan, Dravidian, Austroasiatic, Tibeto-Burman, and Andamanese.

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.

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".

List of Tribal Religions in India

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

See also Dravidian folk religion Folk Hinduism Indian religions Kalashism and Kafirism Bon Freedom of religion in India List of ethnic religions List of religions and spiritual traditions

References