Raika tribe:
The Raika’s knowledge of pasture cycles, animal health and biodiversity has long supported the health of Rajasthan’s arid ecology.
- The Raika tribe is an indigenous pastoralist community primarily inhabiting the arid and semi-arid regions of Rajasthan, notably around Kumbhalgarh in Rajsamand district.
- Also known as Rabaris, they have a distinct socio-cultural relationship with camels.
- The Raikas have historically been the principal breeders of Rajasthan’s indigenous camel breeds, especially the Marwari camel, known for its strength, endurance, and desert adaptability.
- For the Raikas, camel herding is not just a livelihood but a cultural identity, woven into rituals, oral traditions, and seasonal migrations.
- The Raikas possess traditional knowledge of pasture cycles, animal health, and biodiversity, which has historically sustained the fragile ecology of Rajasthan’s arid landscapes.
- Their age-old migratory grazing routes allowed camels to feed on medicinal desert shrubs, enhancing both animal health and ecosystem balance.
