DONGRIA KONDH

This project was a sensitive exploration of the balance between spirituality, territory, and transformation. Through the lens, I portrayed the rituals, agricultural work, strength of the weaving women, and the natural surroundings of the Dongria Kondh in the Niyamgiri hills. The work included both documentary photography and narrative development for the book, highlighting their forms of ecological resistance and everyday elegance. The Dongria Kondh, inhabitants of the Niyamgiri hills, revere their natural environment as sacred. Their cultural identity is deeply tied to the mountain and its rivers, worshipping the deity Niyam Raja. They are expert gatherers of wild foods and horticulturists, especially known for their vast pineapple plantations. The women of this tribe have also become entrepreneurial weavers, crafting the traditional "Kapada Ganda" shawl, which now provides them with income and recognition.