India is home to many tribal communities and the ribals of Inia are a distinctive race with strong traditional knowledge base in different aspects of their culture and livelihood.
Tattoos have been used for thousands of years as a symbol for all humanity. Tattooing has been practiced from prehistoric time.
It is evident that, in 1991 a five thousand year old tattooed man called Ötzi the Iceman, is a well-preserved natural mummy of a man who lived about 3,300 BC. Ötzi had several carbon tattoos including groups of short, parallel, vertical lines to both sides of the lumbar spine, a cruciform mark behind the right knee, and various marks around both ankles.
It has been speculated that these tattoos may have been related to pain relief treatments similar to acupressure or acupuncture. If so, this is at least 2000 years before their previously known earliest use in China.
In Indian context, tattooing has variety of reasons and beliefs. Generally, tattoos are used to keep their indigenous identity among other tribal clan. The local tattoo makers visited different villages to perform their art and earn their livelihood. For instance, In Chhattisgarh, the community called Kothuna or Godharins who makes their livelihood from traditional tattooing practice. They are very knowledgeable about the different types of tattoos preferred by various tribes. The art of tattooing, working procedures, raw materials, techniques and relevant knowledge passed by their mothers generation by generations. Unfortunately, little importance has been given to the essence of such skill due to change in life style and urbanisation. So, in this respect priority should be given to the indigenous traditional knowledge. Documentation and developing the knowledge base of this indigenous traditional knowledge is the need of the hour. Since, the present investigation was conducted to study the cultural and health significance of traditional tattooing practices among tribal community in Chhattisgarh state, India. The documentation of these practices is valuable for future generations and scientific consideration of its wider uses in human health.