BradyGregg4996 at 13:44, 6 August 2025

2025-08-06T13:44:27Z

New page

{{short description|Indigenous tattoos of India}}
'''Godna''', also known as '''Khoda''', is an ancient traditional form of [[tattoo]] art originating from the tribal communities of [[Northern India|Northern]] and [[Central India]], and present in their [[diaspora|diasporas]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Godna Painting |url=https://www.artsofindia.in/arts-of-india-blog/post/indian-arts-and-crafts/godna-painting-the-incredible-story-of-tattoo-art.html |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=www.artsofindia.in |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hembram |first=Dipali |date=2021-03-27 |title=Santal Tribal Tattoos- The Wealth of afterlife. - Santals.com |url=https://santals.com/santal-tribal-tattoos-the-wealth-of-afterlife/ |access-date=2024-09-26 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Theres Kloß |first1=Sinah |title=Embodying dependency: Caribbean godna (tattoos) as female subordination and resistance |journal=The Journal of Latin American and Caribbean Anthropology |date=29 December 2022 |volume=27 |issue=4 |pages=601–612 |doi=10.1111/jlca.12644 |url=https://anthrosource.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jlca.12644 |access-date=21 June 2025|doi-access=free }}</ref> These tattoos are characterized by intricate designs and vivid colors, often depicting elements of nature, mythology, and daily life.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Godna {{!}} Art & Culture |url=https://jharkhandculture.com/node/40 |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=jharkhandculture.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Godna : Tattoo Art by women of the Baiga tribe {{!}} INTACH Intangible Cultural Heritage |url=http://intangibleheritage.intach.org/godna-tattoo-art-by-women-of-the-baiga-tribe-of-madhya-pradesh/ |access-date=2024-09-26 |language=en-US}}</ref> They are exclusive to women.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Deb |first1=Aurodeep |last2=Kumar Premi |first2=Jitendra |title=Anthropological Perspectives of Art and Tattoo: With Special Reference to Bhunjia Tribe of Chhattisgarh |journal=Indian Journal of Research in Anthropology |date=2016 |volume=2 |issue=2 |pages=109–114 |doi=10.21088/ijra.2454.9118.2216.5 |doi-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Gita Niyogi |first1=Deepanwita |title=Tribal Tattoo Art Godna Losing Charm |url=https://theindiantribal.com/2024/06/24/madhya-pradesh-tribal-tattoo-art-godna-losing-charm/ |website=The Indian Tribal |date=24 June 2024 |access-date=21 June 2025}}</ref>

[[File:Art of Tattooing.jpg|thumb|
Baiga tribe women in India, known for their art of tattooing or ''Godna'']]

==History==

The art of Godna dates back several centuries and has its roots in the cultural practices of tribal communities in [[India]], and a connection to [[Hinduism]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Theres Kloß |first1=Sinah |title=Embodying dependency: Caribbean godna (tattoos) as female subordination and resistance |journal=The Journal of Latin American and Caribbean Anthropology |date=29 December 2022 |volume=27 |issue=4 |pages=601–612 |doi=10.1111/jlca.12644 |url=https://anthrosource.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jlca.12644 |access-date=21 June 2025|doi-access=free }}</ref> It is traditionally practiced by women and often involves passing down techniques and designs through generations, with style differences between cultural groups.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Niyogi |first=Deepanwita Gita |date=2024-06-24 |title=Tribal Tattoo Art Godna Losing Charm |url=https://theindiantribal.com/2024/06/24/madhya-pradesh-tribal-tattoo-art-godna-losing-charm/ |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=The Indian Tribal |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-04-21 |title=Godna Art and the Tattooed Baiga Tribal Women of Madhya Pradesh, India |url=https://swatiijain.com/2022/04/21/godna-art-and-the-tattooed-baiga-tribal-women-of-madhya-pradesh-india/ |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=Random Scribblings |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bara |first=Pushpika Sapna |date=2022-10-11 |title=How The Godna Project Is Bringing The Indigenous Tattoo Artists To The Forefront |url=https://www.adivasilivesmatter.com/post/how-the-godna-project-is-bringing-the-indigenous-tattoo-artists-to-the-forefront |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=Adivasi Lives Matter |language=en}}</ref> Tattooing is found in many [[Scheduled Tribe]] groups like [[Baiga|Baigas]], [[Kurukh people|Oraons]], [[Birhor people|Birhors]], [[Saharia|Saharias]], [[Bhunjia|Bhunjias]], [[Asur people|Asurs]], [[Bhumij people|Bhumijas]], [[Mal Paharia people|Mal Paharias]], [[Korwa people|Korwas]], [[Munda people|Mundas]], [[Santals]], [[Konda Reddis]], [[Khonds|Khondas]], [[Chenchu people|Chenchus]], [[Bharia people|Bharias]], [[Kurumba (tribe)|Kurumbas]], [[Irula people|Irulas]], [[Bondos]], [[Juang people|Juangs]], [[Mankidia|Mankidias]], [[Sora people|Sauras]], [[Lodha people|Lodhas]], [[Mudugar|Mudugars]], [[Paniya people|Paniyans]], [[Kattunayakan|Kattunayakans]], [[Mannan (caste)|Mannans]], [[Muthuvan|Muthuvans]], [[Kanikkaran|Kanikkarans]], [[Toda people|Todas]], [[Bhoksa people|Bhoksas]], [[Raji people|Rajis]], etc.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Biswas |first=Rachita |date=2021-07-15 |title=Godna: The ancient tribal art of Tattooing |url=https://www.popbaani.com/post/godna-the-ancient-tribal-art-of-tattooing |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=PopBaani |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Tribal |first=The Indian |date=2024-06-24 |title=Tribal Tattoo Art Godna Losing Charm |url=https://theindiantribal.com/2024/06/24/madhya-pradesh-tribal-tattoo-art-godna-losing-charm/ |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=The Indian Tribal |language=en-US}}</ref>

Since certain diaspora were transported to [[the Caribbean]] as [[Indentured servitude|indentured servants]] to work on [[British Empire|British]] and [[Dutch colonialism|Dutch]] plantations as [[Coolie|coolies]], there are people of Indian descent in [[Guyana]] and [[Suriname]] who carry on the tradition of Godna.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Theres Kloß |first1=Sinah |title=Embodying dependency: Caribbean godna (tattoos) as female subordination and resistance |journal=The Journal of Latin American and Caribbean Anthropology |date=29 December 2022 |volume=27 |issue=4 |pages=601–612 |doi=10.1111/jlca.12644 |url=https://anthrosource.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jlca.12644 |access-date=21 June 2025|doi-access=free }}</ref>

==Significance==

[[Bhunjia|Bhunjias]] are noted as believing that their Godna will remain with them spiritually even after they die.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Deb |first1=Aurodeep |last2=Kumar Premi |first2=Jitendra |title=Anthropological Perspectives of Art and Tattoo: With Special Reference to Bhunjia Tribe of Chhattisgarh |journal=Indian Journal of Research in Anthropology |date=2016 |volume=2 |issue=2 |pages=109–114 |doi=10.21088/ijra.2454.9118.2216.5 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

Godna can indicate wealth and social status.<ref>{{cite thesis |last=Paul |first=Kanchan |date= April 2019|title=STUDY OF TATTOO MAKING OF THE BAIGA TRIBE OF CENTRAL INDIA|url= https://d1wqtxts1xzle7.cloudfront.net/99504938/BAIGA-libre.pdf?1678131966=&response-content-disposition=inline%3B+filename%3DSTUDY_OF_TATTOO_MAKING_OF_THE_BAIGA_TRIB.pdf&Expires=1750544420&Signature=ckkbHQ9qJ9rmHp5dn6PvndGo6txCLiIomgDJ0ej4QtSgcsyZN5jEKbyLT4BvMGbeoGJZ1JaHfjvjJXNqE9LYQFtjCfc26QCH2rz1ZfCzk4ynhrwK32SPwOXwB5~1Erlo4R~MnIVvBHkg3BSyiIT0UWjQL2I4itBCQsEIkqQaZpW7crcX7e4q5IA2vuTobNm6EIr~y-nc2fOhDb3ADihmJ5KHZeP8RYVN5zKLS9QFlFaABjQUVy0mKCzRHsQ~40vY5vo-tYjlEoz9~dEwBRsRSx8I-G~ROMWwpgJjrkwKk0eNeyQBjk9gH6y70ZGOGYuZ8e~ZXYMH31wqf3I0xRoYxA__&Key-Pair-Id=APKAJLOHF5GGSLRBV4ZA|degree= Master of Arts|location= University of Baroda|access-date=21 June 2025}}</ref> In Caribbean communities, Godna was mentioned as needed for marriage, and as symbolizing subjugation of a wife to her husband.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Theres Kloß |first1=Sinah |title=Embodying dependency: Caribbean godna (tattoos) as female subordination and resistance |journal=The Journal of Latin American and Caribbean Anthropology |date=29 December 2022 |volume=27 |issue=4 |pages=601–612 |doi=10.1111/jlca.12644 |url=https://anthrosource.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jlca.12644 |access-date=21 June 2025|doi-access=free }}</ref>

==Modern Day==
Among Baiga women, popularity of Godna is decreasing, due to the pain of getting it. Godna can also be viewed with prejudice by those who perceive it as primitive or antiquated.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tribal |first=The Indian |date=2024-06-24 |title=Tribal Tattoo Art Godna Losing Charm |url=https://theindiantribal.com/2024/06/24/madhya-pradesh-tribal-tattoo-art-godna-losing-charm/ |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=The Indian Tribal |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Gallery ==
{{Gallery
|align=center
|File:Scorpion tattoo on the right hand of a resident of Naiyyasi, India.jpg
|File:Baiga tattoos, India.jpg
|File:Jaipuri tribal hand tattoo.jpg
|File:Central Indian tribal woman fashions a tattoo on her biceps.jpg
|File:Kutia kondh woman 3.jpg
|File:Khonds.jpg
|File:Khonds Ladies.jpg
|File:Baiga Tribe, India.jpg
|File:Baiga Tribal Women of Madhya Pradesh, they are known for their unique tattoos that they make all over their bodies.jpg
|File:Baiga women and children, India.jpg
|File:Woman displaying traditional tattoos on her hands.jpg|Woman displaying traditional tattoos on her hands. Resident of Naiyyasi village, [[Bihar]], India.
}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Tattooing traditions]]
[[Category:Culture of India]]

Godna - Revision history

BradyGregg4996 at 13:44, 6 August 2025