Santal people

The Santal people are an indigenous ethnic group primarily found in India’s eastern states, such as Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha, and West Bengal, as well as parts of Bangladesh. They have a rich cultural heritage, including unique language, festivals, and traditional crafts like weaving and wood carving. Traditionally, many Santals are subsistence farmers, growing crops like rice, and practicing forestry. They have a distinct social structure and deep spiritual beliefs often centered around nature and ancestral worship. The Santal community retains a strong sense of identity through their language, rituals, and cultural practices, contributing significantly to the region's diversity.