Lambani

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The people of the Lambani tribe are mostly found living in the states of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and northern Karnataka. This area is the most southern reach of the tribal belt of north-western India. It marks the dividing line between the Indo-Aryan north and the Dravidian south.

[edit] Lifestyle

The Lambani originally inhabited the remote forested regions of the western Ghat mountains in southern India. As their natural environments were gradually destroyed they were forced to migrate to the flat lands of central India to pursue agricultural lifestyle. Because of their southern roots the Lambani are much darker-skinned than the tribes people further north in Rajasthan and Gujarat, and speak dialects of a different language group.

Their change in lifestyle has brought with it a change in the symbols they use. Coins are now often incorporated into their costumes.

The Lambani maintain a strong matrilineal tradition and land is inherited through the female line.

[edit] Lambani Women

The Lambani women embroider bright rainbow-coloured fabrics covered with a mosaic of patchwork mirrors. Their work is sought after by collectors for its vibrancy of pattern and colour, and for the unusual technique of sewing hundreds of small mirrors into the compositions. Each piece depicts an aspect of the Lambani creation myths.

The Lambani women are great travellers, they can be found in groups throughout the central and southern parts of India selling their cloth at markets and on beaches. Their work contributes considerably to the income of their families.

The Lambani women commonly wear large, silver earrings laden with bells called lolia and a large silver torque around the neck to which two large silver pyramid forms are attached. There are said to represent bee hives, as the Lambani were once known as a bee-keeping caste when they lived in the southern jungles.