In the heartland of the state of Karnataka, quite a multitude of tribal communities have resided in every nook and corner of the region. Amongst them one can easily highlight the importance of the Bedar tribal community. Some of the anthropologists of the Indian Territory have inferred some very important information about this Bedar tribal community. Belonging to the famous Dravidian language family group, this Bedar tribal community can be found several places of Indian territory, apart from Assam valley. There are some people of India who love to identify these Bedar tribes in their alternative names . Beda, Berad, Boya, Bendar, Berar, Burar, Ramoshi, Talwar, Byadar, Valmiki are quite significant.

The word Bedar has got an etymological significance. If one dissects the whole word , one can find that "Bedar" has been derived from the word "bed" or "bedaru" which signifies a hunter.

The origin of these Bedar tribes has got a rich history behind it. Within the Bedar tribal community, there are few Hindus and are called Bedar . The Muslims are being referred as Berad. These Bedar tribes themselves like to be identified as Naikwadi since they work as village policemen or Talwar (watchmen) or Naikmakkalu (chief`s children).

Cultural exuberance of the whole of the Bedar tribal community has nicely being depicted in all its aspects like festivals, language, jewelries etc.

As far as the languages are concerned, this Bedar tribal community converse with other in the beautiful language of the same name. Today these Bedar tribes use diverse languages like Kannada and Marathi.

The societal structure of the Bedar tribal community is quite significant. These Bedar tribes have 6 social groups. These Bedar tribes include servants, traders, messengers, police and soldiers. It is only natural that these Bedar tribes have taken up occupations like farming laborers, security guards, workers, stonecutters, drovers etc.

Jewelries are an integral part of the life of the Bedar tribal community. Both these Bedar males and females are very fond of wearing ornaments that are made up mainly from silver and gold. As per the custom, these Bedar tribes have a set of conventional jewelries. These Bedar tribes wear gold and silver bracelets (khade), waist girdles (uddurs), and gold earrings (muruva). In addition, Bedar females place their hair in a loose knots, wear several other ornaments like nose-rings, a gold necklace, Dhora is a social hoofed silver jewelry which these Bedar females wear on the head. Moreover there are quite a handful of Bedar tribes who also shave their heads, according to the custom.

Tattooing also is a special custom of these Bedar tribes . Little girls of ages between 4 to 5 years , tattoos are being drawn on the several parts like forehead, corners of the eyes, temples and forearms.

Rites , rituals , customs are part of the Bedar tribal community. Interestingly, Unmarried girls can also go for prostitution. Basavis are a group of Bedar tribal females who reside inside the temple premises. After branding them with stamps by the spiritual head, better known as guru, the Bedar girls gets to the temple where a necklace is attached around their neck in the name of the god.

Just like many of the tribal communities of the Indian subcontinent, the institution of marriage too has been hold in quite a high esteem in the Bedar tribal community. The proposal of marriage usually comes from the parents of the Bedar groom. Although child Marriage is prevalent in the Bedar society; the bride does not reside with her husband till her puberty. What is interesting is that no marriage can be held within the sub group of the Bedar community. Widow remarriage and divorce are permitted amongst these Bedar tribes. In matters of administration, especially in case of disputable matters, these Bedar tribes take the help of the village headmen, popularly called kattimani.

Like many of the tribal communities of Indian subcontinent, these Bedar tribes too have developed tastes for all the non-vegetarian dishes and varieties of alcohol. Bedar tribal community has developed immense faith on various practices related to religion and spiritualism like fortune telling, magic and `astrology`. In these Badar tribal community, all the Brahmins use to undertake the role of priests. In some places however, Lingayat Mathpati`s also act as priests.

Amongst the Bedar tribes, both the religions of Hinduism and Islam are prevalent. All the Hindu Bedar tribes link all their deities with the lord Rama. Janai, Jokhai, Khandoba, Hanmappa, Ambabai, Jotiba , Khandoba are some of the supreme deities of the Bedar tribal community. Images from deities like Durgava, Maruti, Venkatesh, Yellamma and Mallikarjun, are made from silver, copper or brass images. The `Durgamurgavva image` is made in a box on their head.

Fairs and festivals are part and parcel of the culture and tradition of the Bedar tribal community. These Bedar tribes fete Hindu festivals viz. Diwali, Dussera, Holi and have a conventional headman or guru.