With over 31 years of tribal photography documentation, MC Shekhar has showcased his works worldwideand won around 1,000 international awards. Here’s a look at the Indigenous communities of India as captured by him.
Bonda: They are found in the hills of Malkangiri district of Odisha, mainly in Khairaput block
Nyishi: These are the largest ethnic group in Arunachal Pradesh, known for their unique lifestyle
Kaithi/Mathura Lambada: A pastoral community— known for their colourful attire and customs — they migrated to Telangana over 300 years ago from Afghanistan
Lushai: Also known as the Mizos, they are an ethnic group living in Mizoram and neighbouring Northeast States
DhanetaJat: Found in the Kutch region, the women of the tribe wear a big crescent-shaped gold nose ring held by thread pinned to their hair, their unique identity
Garos: The second largest tribe in Meghalaya, they are spread across the Garo Hills region of the State
Naikpod: The GandhariMaisammaJatara is a religious and cultural festival celebrated by the Naikpod community in Telangana
Bodos: They are known for their rich culture which includes dancing, singing, and are found in Assam
Brokpa: A small ethnic group, they are settled in Ladakh and in some villages in Baltistan across the Line of Control
Tamang Tribe: Damphu is a traditional dance of Sikkim performed by Tamang community
Manganiar: They are a Muslim community of hereditary musician from the Thar desert region of Rajasthan
Angami: They are the major Naga tribe native to the Northeast State of Nagaland