Ink of identity: symbolism and cultural significance of Baiga tattoo motifs

Among the Baiga tribe of central India, tattooing is more than body art; it is a vital cultural practice through which individuals express identity, memory, and indigenous knowledge. This study employs a semiotic and constructivist perspective to examine Baiga tattoos as embodied cultural texts. The researchers conducted semi-structured interviews and participant observation with Baiga females aged 10–20 years to explore the symbolic meanings of tattoo motifs. The findings show that motifs such as Kapar (stove), Bedhi Tipka (rice grain), and Jhela (roots and shoots) represent ecological knowledge, gender roles, ancestral memory, and cultural values. Baiga women use these inscriptions to communicate denotative and connotative meanings that reinforce collective identity and preserve indigenous traditions. Despite increasing modernization, tattooing remains a significant cultural practice that strengthens intergenerational continuity. The study demonstrates that Baiga tattoos function as living cultural texts that sustain identity, memory, and indigenous knowledge across generations.