Tattoos, passed down generations across India, link individuals to their cultural heritage, depicting a person's identity, caste, gender, beliefs, and customs. Diverse tattoo practices are found in many tribes and groups, each with its methods and meanings.
From the intricate Godna tattoos of Bihar and Jharkhand, worn as symbols of protection and religious devotion, to the facial and body markings of the Apatani tribe in Arunachal Pradesh, tattoos in India tell stories of ancestry, spiritual beliefs, and rites of passage.
Various tribal groups across India have their unique tattooing traditions that carry cultural significance.
The semi-nomadic Toda tribe, indigenous to the Nilgiri Hills in Tamil Nadu, is famous for its long-lasting Pachakutharathu tattoos, which are believed to shield them from evil spirits until they meet their ancestors in heaven.
The term “Pachakutharathu” literally means “green pricking” in Malayalam, referring to the greenish-blue ink traditionally used in this tattooing process. The traditional form of tattooing holds cultural and spiritual significance among various communities in Kerala, particularly the Dalits, Adivasis, and other marginalized groups.
Many contemporary artists are working to revive this ancient practice, adapting its motifs for modern tattoo culture.
Northeast India’s diverse ethnic groups and cultures demonstrate how tattoos carry profound significance. The Apatani tribe in Arunachal Pradesh practices a tattoo tradition known as “Tani Hulo,” which plays a crucial role in their identity.
These facial tattoos combined with “yaping hullo” nose plugs, represent rites of passage, beauty, and protection from rival tribes. Similarly, the Bodo and Mishing communities in Assam view tattoos as more than skin-deep art; they function as markers of cultural heritage and social roles reinforcing traditional values and communal bonds.
The Konyak tribe, one of the largest and most prominent Naga tribes in Northeast India, is known for its distinctive culture and traditions, particularly its elaborate tattooing practices. The Konyaks inhabit the Mon district in Nagaland and parts of Myanmar.
For the Konyaks, tattoos were more than decorative. They were seen as a form of spiritual armour, protecting the wearer in the afterlife. With the arrival of Christianity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and the influence of colonialism, the practice of headhunting was officially banned. Along with it, the tradition of tattooing also began to fade. In recent years, there has been growing interest in preserving and documenting the traditional tattoos of the Konyak people.
Once a deeply entrenched tradition, the Apatani tattooing practice has largely faded in recent years, but it remains an important aspect of their cultural heritage.
Apatani women are adorned with tattoos from the forehead to the nose and from the lower lip to the chin, which signify tribal identity and are believed to reduce pain and accelerate healing in winter. The ink, made from soot and animal fat, is hammered into the skin using thorn needles, symbolising the community’s resilience and connection to tradition.
The tradition of facial modification, called “tiipe” in the Apatani language, is more strongly associated with women, who wear prominent facial tattoos and large wooden nostril plugs.
Many tattoos of the Ao Nagas feature geometric patterns such as zig-zag patterns, straight lines, and chevrons. These designs often represent different stages of life, war achievements, or tribal roles. For men, tattoos are usually inked on the chest, arms, and face.
Some tattoos incorporate animals like the hornbill (a significant bird in Naga culture) or serpents. These animals symbolise strength, protection, or clan identity. Patterns related to nature, such as leaves, vines, or trees, are often depicted. These designs might represent fertility, life, or the connection between the individual and the natural world.
Traditional tattooing uses natural inks made from plant-based dyes and soot from burned wood with the tattoo tools often being sharp thorns or bone needles.
Santhals, one of the largest indigenous tribes of India, are known for their unique culture and traditions, including their intricate tattooing practices. Their tattoos, known as “Sikka,” are coin-sized designs on the forehead, symbolising life and, among women, the painful process of motherhood.
The Santhals believe in the transformative power of tattoos, creating tattoos for each body part and age group. Odd numbers represent life, while even numbers represent death. Santhal women also have floral tattoos, and the Chati Godai tattoo (tattoos on chest and breasts) is inked during puberty or marriage. The tribe uses thorns for needles and cow or pig fat for ink, and colors made from crushed grape seeds.
The Dhanuks are a marginalised community primarily found in Bihar, northern India and Nepal. Dhanuks in Bihar, a lower caste group, tattoo their faces and bodies to deter noblemen’s advances and protect themselves from sexual exploitation.
Like many tribal and indigenous groups, they have a deep-rooted tradition of tattooing, known locally as “Godna” or “tattooing of auspicious marks.” They believe that placing images on visible areas of women’s bodies will make them unattractive for sexual purposes.
In Gujarat, Rabari women wear “trajva” tattoos as a symbol of strength and identity. These tattoos, featuring scorpions and snakes, are considered essential for potential brides. The ink, made from lampblack and tannin, symbolises the community’s belief in the protective and aesthetic power of tattoos.
The tattoos are considered a mark of strength due to their sensitivity and resistance to infection. Skin exposure is considered unseemly, so brides are favoured to have tattoos before weddings. Women’s tattoos feature snakes and scorpions on their faces, necks, forearms, breasts, and necks, while men wear camel marks on their right hand.
The Mer tribe prefers getting motifs such as holy men, popular deities, and nature-derived symbols tattooed. Girls are marked at the age of seven or ten, with tattoos on their hands, feet, necks, and breasts.
Tattooing girls before marriage is customary, or they may be perceived as from poor families. Men are not as heavily tattooed but must be marked above their wrists, back of their hands, and sometimes on the right shoulder. The ink is prepared using lamp soot mixed with cow’s urine or tulsi leaf juice. The carving process involves using a reed stick with needles.
The final “gondan”, Chhati Godai, is placed on the chest after giving birth. The process involves using crushed Niger seed powder as ink, which is carved using a bamboo stick and penetrated using a needle. The wound is then washed with cow dung and lukewarm water, and Raijal herb is applied for healing.
The Baiga are an ethnic group belonging to Madhya Pradesh and also can be found in the surrounding states of Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand in smaller numbers. Meanwhile, the largest number of Baiga is found in Baiga-chuk in Mandla district and Balaghat district of Madhya Pradesh.
Tattoos remain a vital legacy for many communities, symbolising identity, protection, and continuity across generations. Preserving this tradition is vital to honour their heritage and ensure their place in history.
This story first appeared on MeMeraki.
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The lead photo on top shows Konyak tribals, one of the largest and most prominent Naga tribes in Northeast India, known for their elaborate tattooing practices. The tattoos reflect the deep connection to their warrior past, their spiritual beliefs, and their social structure. (Photo courtesy of Roli Books – homegrown.co.in)
