The Tani people are a Sino-Tibetan ethnic group of peoples, which includes the Nyishi, Adi, Apatani, Galo, Tagin, and Mising, who share common beliefs, ancestry, and Tani languages and live in the Indian states of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, as well as the Tibet Autonomous Region in China.[2]
(2011 census) | |
Regions with significant populations | |
---|---|
China Tibet Autonomous Region, India Assam, Arunachal Pradesh | [1] |
Religion | |
Donyi-Polo, Ekasarana Dharma, Christianity | |
Related ethnic groups | |
Other Sino-Tibetan people |
The Tani are one of the largest ethnic groups in Northeast India, with a population of 1.7 million.
They also reside across the border in Tibet Autonomous Region, China. The Chinese government recognises Tani peoples as members of the Lhoba people.
Most of the residents of Arunachal Pradesh belong to the five Tani tribes (Nyishi, Adi, Galo, Apatani, and Tagin) who are all said to be descended from Abotani. Some of the history of the Tani people has been recorded in the ancient libraries of Tibet as the Tani people traded swords and other metals with Tibetans in exchange for meat and wool. Tibetans referred to the Tani people as the Lhobhas; lho means south and bha means people.[3]