Nineteenth International Conference on Design Principles & Practices

Abstract

This research concerns the material culture and associated intangible cultural heritage of India’s earliest and second-largest indigenous group: the Raj Gonds. Traditional artefacts made for ceremonial and utilitarian purposes play a vital role in their socio-cultural life. The Raj Gonds of Telangana are the successors of the Chanda Rulers. They continue to celebrate their cultural festivals and rituals around the year. The artefacts are an integrated part of the Indigenous cultural heritage and living traditions. Cultural artefacts include tools, artworks, clothing, and ritual objects, which often carry deep meanings tied to ancestral knowledge, spiritual beliefs, and social structures. The study reports the interplay between tangible and intangible cultural heritage by analysing these objects’ materiality, symbolism, and functionality and tries to understand the significance of cultural artefacts in the living traditions of the Raj Gonds. The data was collected using ethnographic methods, including semi-structured interviews, participatory observation, and Audio-visual documentation to reveal how these artefacts are not merely physical items but powerful symbols that reinforce kinship, maintain intergenerational continuity, and foster communal solidarity within the Gond society. The findings underscore the need for preservation efforts that respect indigenous values and support sustainable practices, as these artefacts are increasingly at risk due to globalization, modernization, and commodification pressures. This study contributes to the broader understanding of cultural heritage and identity in Indigenous contexts, emphasizing the importance of protecting the living heritage associated with the artefacts to safeguard the cultural values they represent for future generations.