Mahli tribes are mostly found in the `Santhal Parganas` of West Bengal. Apart from West Bengal, people of this community are also found in Orissa and Jharkhand. Some are also scattered in the districts like Gumla, Singhbhum, Hazaribag, Dhanbad, Santhal Pragana, Lohardaga, Ranchi, and Purnia. This tribal community is reckoned as one of the Scheduled tribes of West Bengal.

The Mahli tribes are segregated in five sub groups namely Patar Mahli, Tanti Mahli, Munda Mahli, Bansphor Mahli, and Sulukhi Mahali. Day by day these Mahli tribes are decreasing in number. The Mahli tribes traditionally meet the demands of their sustenance mainly by selling items made of bamboo. Among various items that are prepared by these Mahli tribes are Machi, chatai (for lying down and sleeping), a tiny bench, umbrellas, sop and rain cap. A special utensil, soop is used in kitchen mainly for removing dust particles from cereals etc. The Mahli tribes have the custom of tattooing their names on their hands.

The houses of this tribal community are made with the help of bamboo, mud, tiles, kosi grass and wood. The people of this tribal community are also engaged in agriculture, labour, collecting forest products etc.

The people of the Mahali tribal society practice monogamy in case of marriage. Moreover, in some cases, bigamy and tri-gamy are also granted. They strictly abhor parallel cousin and cross cousin marriage. In their society levirate and widow remarriage are permissible.

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