The day marks the birth anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda, a tribal leader and freedom fighter. 

• It is celebrated on November 15th to honor contributions of tribal communities in India’s freedom struggle and their role in preserving India’s heritage. 

Role of tribals in heritage preservation 

Cultural Heritage  

• Oral traditions and Storytelling: “U Sier Lapalang” (The Stag of Lapalang) folktale among Khasi-Pnar - highlights reverence for nature. 
• Carriers of rituals, festivals and ceremonies: Eg. Hornbill Festival among Nagas aims to protect unique cultural diversity and rich traditions of Nagaland.  
• Traditional crafts and art forms: E.g. Warli paintings by Warli tribes showcase deep connection between humans and nature. 
• Traditional Medicine:  E.g. Various plants are conserved and used as medicinal herbs for bone fracture, snake-bites, muscular pain, cure of fever, headcache, and body swelling etc. 

Biodiversity Conservation  

• Conservation of Protected Areas. E.g Soligas tribes in  Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple (BRT) wildlife sanctuary (Karnataka) uses traditional knowledge for conservation of forest ecology 
• Sacred Natural Spaces: Plants are conserved in their natural habitat by tribals due to magico-religious belief that they are habitat of god and goddess.E.g. Mawphlang Sacred Forest is protected by Khasi for >800 years for deity Labasa. 
• Wildlife protection practices: E.g Bishnoi Tribes protect animals such as blackbuck, chinkara etc