| Abstract: | Tripura, one of the eight sisters located in Northeast India, is a habitat of the indigenous communities whose diverse languages, folklore, storytelling practices, and oral traditions form the backbone of the cultural heritage of this lovely hilly state, Tripura. Each indigenous community differs from another in terms of language, food, dress, music, dance style, and taste for livelihood. Languages such as Tripura/Tipra language, Bengali, and other indigenous languages, along with dances like Hozagiri, Lebang Boomani, Bizu, and Garia, and musical instruments like Sarinda, Chongpreng, Madol and Sumui have significantly contributed to the protection of the cultural heritage of this beautiful state, accompanied by hundreds of folktales from the Tipra soil. But the approach of modern science and technology, along with the influences of Western languages, dances, food habits, and culture, has impaired the cultural divergences of the state. Now, these thousand-year-old traditions and cultures are under threat.This study offers an overview of how oral traditions contribute to the preservation and expansion of its heritage, emphasising the urgent need for collective efforts to protect these indefinable cultural assets. |
