Traditional tattoos of Indian states and what do they symbolize

Tattoos are a personal expression. While they might seem like an invention of modernity, they have been around for centuries. They have been a part of our cultural fabric dating as far back as the prehistoric and Indus Valley civilizations. They are not only an art form but also a way to symbolize beliefs and traditions. There has always been a stigma attached to tattoos, often manifested in comments like “Now that you have gotten a tattoo, you won’t get a job.” It is easy to forget that tattoos are not a Western concept but something that is etched deep in our culture. Tattoos specific to certain cultures or religions give a sense of camaraderie and inclusivity. Let us take a look at states and tribes where tattoos are a tradition and have specific significance attached to them.

The Rabaris of Gujarat, also called the Rewari or Desai, are an indigenous tribal caste. They were nomadic cattle and camel herders and were spread across the western side of India. These people are well known for their extensive and elaborate Trajava, the Gujarati word for tattoos. In their culture, bare skin was considered shameful, so people of this tribe, who are proud of their caste identity, get these tattoos on their forearms, face, throat, etc. Since tattoos are extremely painful, getting them is a sign of strength. Men get camel tattoos on their backs, while for women, they are also part of their ornaments. Additionally, for women, some tattoos have very specific connotations, like a tattoo that represents fertility.

The women of the Kutia Kondh tribe of Orissa, called ‘the people of the spirit world’, tattooed their faces and bodies as a symbolic gesture. Inking themselves in similar geometric patterns, they believed, would help them recognize the women from their tribe in heaven.
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Konyaks are considered the last headhunters of the region. They are believed to be extremely aggressive, often resolving a conflict by beheading and carrying the skull back in a specially designed casket. Tattoos are an integral part of their culture as they etch their life story on their bodies. They denote various stages in life and their close connection with nature and headhunting. After every war, each warrior got tattooed according to the skull count. The face tattoos were only for warriors who were better than others.

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The Baigas are forest-dwelling tribes whose tattoo themes are inspired much by nature and its elements. For a girl who reaches puberty, it is customary to get a symbolic moon-shaped tattoo on the forehead. By the time she is ready to be married, the rest of her body is decorated with tattoos, each having profound symbolism. The neck and the breasts are tattooed as the woman bears children, marking her womanhood.
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Ramnami Samaj was a movement by the ‘untouchables’ or people of lower caste, to oppose the stringent rules and regulations imposed by the upper-caste people that restricted any access to temples and religious education. The members, who call themselves Ramupasaks, during the Hindu reformist movement of the 19th century, tattooed the name of the holy god Ram all over their bodies. This was both a symbolic and intentional act. By engraving the name of God on their bodies, they followed a religion the upper castes didn’t want them to, and the upper castes were not even able to inflict injury on a body that had the name of Ram. Another legend goes that the founder of this movement, Parasurama, cured his leprosy by etching the name of God on his body.

The Mundas were legendary warriors who used their bodies to etch history. The tribe belonging to Jharkhand defeated the Mughals thrice, so to celebrate the victory and the milestone, they inked three vertical straight lines on their foreheads.
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The tattoos created by the Todas of Tamil Nadu are known as Pachakutharathu. The artists, who are referred to as Korathi tattoo artists, would travel the country seeking customers. For the Todas, these tattoos were sacred, as they provided protection from evil eyes until they met their ancestors in heaven. The specific pattern, called Kollam, is extremely auspicious and helps in the entanglement of evil spirits. In earlier times, the tattoos also differentiated local tribes from each other.

The Dhanuks of Bihar were considered a relatively low caste, and so to protect their women from the eyes of upper-caste men, they ‘disfigured’ their women with tattoos as a form of protection. It was believed that tattoos would put off the wandering eyes of men. While women of many castes were made to be in ‘purdah’, to indicate their inferior caste, they tattooed their exposed body parts like hands and feet.

(Representative Image)