Godna- The Art of Body Ornamentation in Jharkhand

'Godna', is a traditional tattoo art of Jharkhand. The study explores its cultural, social, religious, and medicinal significance in tribal communities. It is based on fieldwork in the Ranchi district and interviews with 'Godna' practising artists. Also, secondary sources have been referred to present comparative studies of Indian and global tattooing traditions. The study demonstrates multiple functions of this art. It functions as an identity, as a ritual, as a way to protect against exploitation, and as a healing practice. Artisans, traditionally older women, inserted pigments from soot and coal dust mixed with mustard oil into the skin with thorns or iron needles, making geometric, floral, and symbolic designs. It is considered as a part of cultural norms embedded in life, nature, and spirituality. Mythologies associated with deities Shiva-Parvati, and Yamaraj, facilitate the incorporation of 'Godna' into the tribal cosmology to function as a cultural text. 'Godna' shows similarities with Māori moko tattoos, Japanese Irezumi, and Amazigh tattoos. It forms a part of ritual, medicinal, and mythological aspects of the region. However, modernization, religious conversion, and changing values are limiting the practice to some elderly women and marginalized artisans. Moreover, their tattooing and craft skills are not recognized sufficiently. There is an urgent need for preservation through documentation, reinterpretation within contemporary art and fashion contexts, and for socio-economic upliftment of artisans to safeguard this intangible cultural heritage and the dignity, identity, and resilience of tribal communities in Jharkhand.