Examine individual changes

'[[File:Cropped Tripuri.jpg|thumb|Children in Tripura prepare for a traditional dance.]] [[File:Traditional dress of Tripura.jpg|thumb|Tripuri couple in traditional dress]] [[File:A tripuri girl wearing Rigwnai and Risa.jpg|thumb|A Tripuri girl in Rigwani and Risa]] '''Culture of [[Tripura]]''' is similar to those of Native indigenous tribal peoples of [[Northeast India]]. However like [[Assam]], [[Manipur]], [[Burma]] and [[Southeast Asia]] culture of Tripura is characterized in small portion living in plain areas by mainstream Indian cultural influence spearheaded by [[Bengali culture]] coexisting with tribal traditional practices specially living in those plain areas, not much extending to Hill people of [[Tripura]] notably the [[Tripuri culture]]. Tripura is a state in [[North East India]]. In the 2001 census of India, [[Bengali people|Bengalis]] represented almost 70% of Tripura's population and the tribal population comprised 30% of Tripura's population.The tribal population comprises several different tribes and ethnic groups with diverse languages and cultures. The largest tribal group was the [[Kokborok language|Kokborok]]-speaking tribe of the [[Tripuri people|Tripuri]] who had a population of 543,848 in 2001 census,<ref name="st 2001 hl">{{cite web| url= http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Tables_Published/SCST/dh_st_tripura.pdf|format=PDF|title=Tripura data highlights: the scheduled tribes|publisher= Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India |accessdate= 20 April 2012}}</ref> representing 16.99% of the state population and 54.7% of the scheduled tribe population.<ref name="st 2001 hl"/> The other major tribes in order of decreasing population were [[Reang]] (16.6% of the tribal population), [[Jamatia]] (7.5%), [[Chakma people|Chakma]] (6.5%), [[Halam tribe|Halam]] (4.8%), [[Mog people|Mog]] (3.1%), [[Munda people|Munda]], [[Kuki peoples|Kuki]] tribes and [[Garo people|Garo]].<ref name="st 2001 hl"/> [[Bengali language|Bengali]] is the most spoken language, due to the predominance of Bengali people in the state. [[Kokborok]] is a prominent language among the tribes. Several other languages belonging to Indo-European and Sino-Tibetan families are spoken by the different tribes. Tripura has several diverse ethno-linguistic groups, which has given rise to a composite culture. The dominant cultures are [[Bengali culture|Bengali]], [[Meitei people|Manipuri]], [[Debbarma|Tripuris]], [[Jamatia]], [[Reang]], [[Noatia]], [[Koloi]], [[Murasing]], [[Chakma people|Chakma]], [[Halam (ethnic group)|Halam]], [[Garo people|Garo]], [[Kuki people|Kuki]], [[Mizo people|Mizo]], [[Mogh]], [[Munda people|Munda]], [[Oraon]], [[Santhal]], and [[Uchoi]]. ==Bengali culture== [[Bengali people]] represent the largest non-tribal community of the state. [[Bengali culture]], as a result, is the main non-tribal culture in the state. Indeed many tribal families, especially those who are from the elite class and reside in urban centres, have embraced Bengali culture more than their tribal cultural roots.<ref name="Paul2010">{{cite book|last=Paul|first=Manas|title=The Eyewitness: Tales from Tripura's Ethnic Conflict|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ubVIbIN9UwsC|accessdate=10 July 2012|date=19 April 2010|publisher=Lancer Publishers|isbn=978-1-935501-15-2|page=104}}</ref> The Tripuri kings were great patron of Bengali culture, especially literature,<ref name="Paul2010"/> and [[Bengali language]] was the language of the court.<ref name="Boland-CreweLea2002">{{cite book|last1=Boland-Crewe|first1=Tara|last2=Lea|first2=David|title=The Territories and States of India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JrNCaYCriicC|accessdate=10 July 2012|date=15 November 2002|publisher=Psychology Press|isbn=978-1-85743-148-3|page=238}}</ref> The Nobel laureate Bengali poet [[Rabindranath Tagore]] had notable friendship with the kings.<ref name="Boland-CreweLea2002"/> Elements of Bengali culture, such as [[Bengali literature]], [[Bengali music]], and [[Bengali cuisine]] predominate particularly in the urban areas of the state. ==Handicrafts== Tripura is noted for bamboo and cane handicrafts.<ref name="nkc compos">{{cite web|url=http://www.knowledgecommission.gov.in/downloads/documents/nkc_northEast.pdf|title=Tripura: a composite culture|work=Glimpses from the North-East|last=Chaudhury|first=Saroj|publisher=[[National Knowledge Commission]]|year=2009|pages=55–61|accessdate=5 July 2012}}</ref> Bamboo played important part in the ''jhumia'' (shifting cultivation) of the tribes. It was used to make watch stations on stilts, and was devised to carry food and water. Besides these usages, bamboo, woods and cane were used to create an array of furniture, utensils, hand-held fans, replicas, mats, baskets, idols and interior decoration materials.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tripura.nic.in/han3.htm|title=Handicrafts|publisher=Government of Tripura|accessdate=7 July 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Entrepreneurship and small business development: with special reference to Tripura|last=Chakraborty|first=Kiran Sankar|publisher=Mittal Publications|isbn=9788183241250|year=2006|pages=39–41}}</ref> ==Songs and dances== {{see also|Musical instruments of Tripura|Tripuri dances}} [[File:Hojagiri.JPG| thumb| Performers getting ready to do Hojagiri dance, a dance of the Reang community]] Music and dances are integral part of the tribal people of Tripura. Some of their indigenous musical instruments are the ''[[sarinda]]'', ''[[Musical instruments of Tripura#Chongpreng|chongpreng]]'', and ''[[sumui]]'' (a kind of [[flute]]). Songs are sung during religious occasions, weddings, and other festivals. Each tribal community has their own repertoire of songs and dances. The Tripuri and Jamatia tribe perform [[goria dance]] during the [[Goria puja]]. [[Jhum dance]] (also called [[tangbiti dance]]) in the harvest season, [[lebang dance]], [[mamita dance]], and [[mosak sulmani dance]] are other Tripuri dances.<ref name="ttaadc culture">{{cite web|url=http://www.ttaadc.nic.in/folkCultureofTripura.pdf|title=The folk dance and music of Tripura|publisher=Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council|format=PDF|accessdate=7 July 2012}}</ref> Reang community, the second largest tribe of the state, are noted for their [[hojagiri dance]] performed by young girls balancing on earthen pitchers.<ref name="ttaadc culture"/> The [[Bizhu dance]] is performed by the [[Chakma people|Chakmas]] during the Bizhu festival (the last day of the month of ''[[Chaitra]]''). Other tribal dances are [[wangala]] dance of the Garo people, [[hai-hak dance]] of the Halam branch of Kuki people, [[sangrai dance]] and [[owa dance]] of the Mog tribe, and others.<ref name="ttaadc culture"/> Besides tribal music, [[Indian classical music]] is also practiced among the residents. [[Sachin Dev Burman]] of the royal family was a maestro in the [[filmi]] genre of Indian music, creating many popular tunes in the [[bollywood]] films. ==Festivals and worships== Hindus believe that Tripureshwari is the [[patron god]]dess of Tripura and an aspect of ''[[Shakti]]''. Several fertility gods are also worshiped by the tribes, such as Lam-Pra (the twin deities of sky and sea), Mailu-ma (goddess of corn, identified with [[Lakshmi]]), Khulu-ma (goddess of the cotton plant), and Burha-cha (god of healing). [[Durga Puja]], [[Kali Puja]], Ashokastami and the worship of the [[Chaturdasha Temple|''Chaturdasha'' deities]] are important festivals. Several festivals represent confluence of several tribal traditions, such as [[Ganga puja]], [[Garia puja]], [[Kherchi puja]], [[Ker puja]].<ref name="Sharma">{{cite book|last=Sharma|first=A.P.|title=Famous festivals of India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VRgD7cga54EC|accessdate=9 July 2012|publisher=Pinnacle Technology|isbn=978-1-61820-288-8|chapter=Tripura festival}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://tripura.nic.in/cul3.htm|title=Fairs and festivals|publisher=Government of Tripura|accessdate=7 July 2012}}</ref> ==Sculpture and architecture== [[File:Unakoti group of bas-relief sculptures,Tripura,India.jpg|thumb|Rock sculpture in Unakoti]] [[Unakoti]], [[Pilak, Tripura|Pilak]] and [[Devtamura]] are historic sites where large collections of stone carvings and rock sculptures are noted.<ref name="nkc compos"/><ref name="herald rock">{{cite news|url=http://archive.deccanherald.com/Content/Jul252008/national2008072580863.asp?section=updatenews|title=Tripura sculptures, rock images speak of glorious past|newspaper=Deccan Herald|date=25 July 2008|accessdate=7 July 2012}}</ref> These sculptures are evidence of the presence of Buddhism and Brahmanical orders for centuries. These sculptures represent a rare artistic fusion of traditional religions and tribal influence.<ref name="Chauley2007">{{cite book|first=G. C.|last= Chauley|title=Art treasures of Unakoti, Tripura|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FwxuAAAAMAAJ|accessdate=8 July 2012|date=1 September 2007|publisher=Agam Kala Prakashan|isbn=978-81-7320-066-3}}</ref><ref name="Session2003">{{cite book|author=North East India History Association. Session|title=Proceedings of North East India History Association|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eDluAAAAMAAJ|accessdate=8 July 2012|year=2003|publisher=The Association|page=13}}</ref><ref name="ChaudhuriChaudhuri1983">{{cite book|last1=Chaudhuri|first1=Saroj|last2=Chaudhuri|first2=Bikach|title=Glimpses of Tripura|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pyUuAAAAMAAJ|accessdate=9 July 2012|volume=1|year=1983|publisher=Tripura Darpan Prakashani|page=5|asin=B0000CQFES}}</ref> ==Sports== [[Football (soccer)|Football]] and [[cricket]] are the most popular sports in the state. The state capital [[Agartala]] has its own club football championships every year where many local clubs compete in a league and knockout format. Tripura participates as an eastern state team in the [[Ranji Trophy]], the Indian domestic cricket competition. The state also is a regular participant of the Indian National Games and the North Eastern Games. Tripura produced a few nationally successful players in gymnastics and swimming, but overall contribution in athletics, cricket, football and indoor games remained poor.<ref name="pib sports">{{cite web|url=http://pib.nic.in/feature/feyr2002/fapr2002/f240420021.html|title=Sports development in Tripura|last=Chanda|first=Subhasis|date=24 April 2002|publisher=Press Information Bureau, Government of India|accessdate=12 July 2012}}</ref> ==See also== *[[Coinage of the Tripura Kingdom]] ==References== {{reflist}} [[Category:Tripuri culture]]'