Use of plant diversity in household and rituals by tribal people of Dhenkanal district, Odisha, India.

ABSTRACT

This study documents traditional knowledge of plants used as household appliances and rituals by tribal’s of Dhenkanal district, Odisha, India. It is primarily based on field surveys carried out in villages, where dwellers provided information on plant species used as household materials and rituals. The plant parts, viz. leaf, bark, stem wood and whole plant were used for above purpose. The species used as comprise 21 families for household and 11 families for rituals. The most important families were Arecaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Poaceae and Fabaceae. These plant resources were used for preparation of broom, mat, basket, measuring device of grains, insecticide to store grains etc. and rituals like marriage, worshiping different trees, Sun God, mother Earth, Goddess Banadurga, Daluani Devata and Jangal Devata.