Mythologies of the Thakar Tribe
The Thakar tribe , an indigenous Adivasi community recognized as a Scheduled Tribe under Indian law, inhabits primarily the forested and hilly regions of Maharashtra's Konkan area, including districts such as Thane , Raigad, and Sindhudurg, with a recorded population of 487,696 in the state as of the 2001 census. Originally forest-dwellers with semi-nomadic lifestyles centered on hunting , gathering, and resource extraction—practices curtailed by modern regulations—they have transitioned largely to agriculture and animal husbandry , though many remain economically marginalized with high illiteracy rates exceeding 55% and persistent poverty . Distinguished by their rich intangible cultural heritage, the Thakar are custodians of Chitrakathi , a traditional folk art form entailing the creation of sequential hand-painted scrolls (pothis) depicting mythological narratives from epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata, accompanied by live oral recitation and performative gestur...
