Presented by

• Pallavi
• Usha
• Sana
• Prakruthi
 JARAWAS of ANDAMAN AND
NICOBAR ISLAND
• Land & People

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands were shrouded in mystery for

centuries because of their inaccessibility. These are the paragon of
beauty and present a landscape full with scenic and picturesque
extravaganza. These islands shimmer like emeralds in the Bay of
Bengal. The dense forest which cover these islands and the
innumerable exotic flowers and birds create a highly poetic and
romantic atmosphere. "Here the white beaches on the edge of a
meandering coastline have palm trees that sway to the rhythm of the
Sea. The beat of tribal drums haunt the stillness and techni-colour
fish steer their way through crystal clear water." This addition of
strangeness to beauty which is responsible for creating the infinite
romantic impact may be described in the following famous lines of
Keats
• THE sentinelese tribe did not wear clothes
• The jawaraws use a lot of jewellery to
adorn their bodies
• The shompens use clothes only below
their waist
• The islanders celebrate most of the festivals of the mainland due to the influence of
the external society and the development that has taken place.
• Major festivals are Durga Puja, Pongal, Panguni Uthiram, and Onam. Other important
festivals are Mahashivaratri, Janmashtami, Holi, Diwali, Christmas, Good Friday, etc.
• The Island Tourism Festival is celebrated every year for 15 days between December
and February in Port Blair. Dance performances from the troupes residing in different
islands are organized.
• One of the major attractions at this festival is the Andaman Dog Show. Being far
removed from the present civilization, the aboriginal people did not wear any clothes
till recently. The Sentinelese do not wear anything even now while the Jarawas use
only adornments of bark and shell, like necklaces, arm bands, waist bands etc.
• The Shompens are semi nomadic and cover their body below the waist only. The
people of Car Nicobar Island have totally given up the traditional dress of tassel or
coconut leaf petticoat and now wear modern clothes.
• The Onges survived without dress for centuries but have gradually adapted to the
dress code of the mainland. Use of traditional items of adornment like necklaces
made of shell, waistbands and headbands of bark fiber are now restricted to
ceremonial occasions.
• The emphasis of the government on progress and its encouragement to the
mainlanders to settle there has resulted in the local tribes becoming a
minority group in their own land.
• The indigenous tribes are distinguished in two groups: the Onge,
Sentinelese, Jarawa and Andamanese of Negroid descent living on the
Andaman Islands and the Shompen and Nicobarese of Mongoloid descent
living in the Nicobar Islands.
• Most of the tribes are on the verge of extinction. This sad destiny will most
likely hit the Andamanese tribe first since their number is as low as thirty.
The Sentinelese is the least studied tribe still living in isolation on the North
Sentinel Island. Their number is estimated at 250. Outsiders attempting to
make contact with them are driven away with bows and arrows. They
continue to maintain a unique lifestyle living in harmony with nature just as
they have done for thousands of years.
• The main crafts of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands include shell and exotic
woods crafted for the tourists, palm mats, and beautiful natural shells. Due
to the fear of over exploitation of the Islands' natural resources, trade of
some products is now banned.
• Tribes of these islands were hunters till
recently and some of them had not
invented fire. Because of this reason no
particular cuisine has developed in
Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Now, with
increasing links with the developed worlds,
the habitants are adopting their food habits
too. Seafood is available in plenty and
many restaurants serve fresh seafood