Quite a handful of tribal communities reside in the heartland of West Bengal, thereby enriching the region with their cultural exuberance and tradition. The word Munda has an etymological significance. It means headman of a village. Between 1857 and1928, the Munda tribes gained so much of admiration amongst the anthropologists that the eminent scholar, Rev. John Baptist Hoffmann S.J. wrote his copious work "Encyclopaedia Mundarica" in sixteen volumes.

As per the survey carries out in the year 1983, it has been counted that the total population of the Munda tribes is around five million in the panorama of Indian subcontinent. According to the analysis of the anthropologists of India, Munda tribes are one of the largest tribes of India. Main languages spoken by these tribes include `Munda` or `Killi`, Santali and Mundari.

As far as the occupation of these Munda tribes is concerned, in earlier times the Munda tribes were wandering huntsmen and collectors. Very recently, these Munda tribes too take up the profession of shifting cultivation, thereby following the practice of most of the tribes of Indian subcontinent. They built up the Parha system of Government, which is fundamentally a `confederacy of village governments`. The village markets play very vital role in their economic lives where they exchange their products required for their basic sustenance. Exquisite items also are being produced to a huge extent.

Several Munda tribes prefer to identify themselves as `Heriki`. Usually these Munda are short in height and have got dark complexion and are very beautiful to look at. For better administration and controlling, the whole society of Munda tribes are largely being segregated into several sub tribal communities, including Mahali, Patar, Kampat Munda etc. Every Munda village has a `Gotiora`, which carries a well adopted habitual culture in giving training the young men of Munda. The entertaining hub of these Munda tribes , popularly known as `Akhra` is usually to be found where the village panchayat usually used to take place.

These Munda tribes are pious and religious minded, mainly practicing Hinduism. Quite a number of people also have retained their traditional practice of Animism. `Sarana` is the place corresponding to a temple in the Munda tribe. Singbonga is the supreme god, other ethnocentric deity includes Jahweh. The Munda tribes uphold their tribal identity by barring intermarriage with other tribal communities.