Andaman and Nicobar Islands — Culture,
Heritage & Language
Beaches, Cellular Jail, scuba diving, tribes
Introduction
The Andaman & Nicobar Islands, in the Bay of Bengal, are a 572-island archipelago of coral reefs, turquoise waters and the dark history of the colonial Cellular Jail. Some indigenous tribes still live in voluntary isolation.
Quick Facts
Capital
Port Blair
Largest City
Port Blair
Official Language
Hindi, English
Formation Date
1 November 1956
Area
8,249 sq km
Population
400,000+
Region
South
Type
Union Territory
Language
Hindi and English are official. Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Nicobarese are widely spoken.
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Traditional Dress
Mainland sarees, dhoti and Western wear dominate. Indigenous Nicobarese and Shompen wear minimal traditional garments suited to the climate.
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Festivals
Island Tourism Festival, Pongal, Durga Puja, Onam, Eid and Christmas reflect the archipelago's settler diversity.
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Cuisine
Fresh seafood — Crab Curry, Grilled Lobster, Fish Coconut Curry, Macher Jhol, Coconut Prawn Curry and tropical fruits.
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Literature
Memoirs by Cellular Jail inmates (notably Veer Savarkar's 'My Transportation for Life') anchor the islands' literary identity.
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Art Forms
Shell craft, cane and bamboo work, coconut-shell artifacts and indigenous Nicobarese music and dance.
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Historical Importance
Colonial penal settlement at the Cellular Jail (1906); briefly under Japanese occupation in WWII; UT since 1956. The 2004 tsunami caused massive devastation, especially in Nicobar.
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