In Chhattisgarh, the Ramnami community expresses its devotion to Lord Ram by inscribing his name on its members’ bodies, a tradition rooted in its history of caste-based exclusion. The practice, which emerged in the late 19th century according to accounts of the community’s origins, has become a distinctive marker of its faith and identity.
The community’s story has recently reached a wider audience through filmmaker Bharatbala Ganapathy’s documentary Ram-Nami, which won the Best Documentary award at the 72nd National Film Awards. The tradition has also inspired a Durga Puja theme in Kolkata, bringing its story of faith and resistance to caste discrimination into the city’s festive celebrations.
Faith Worn on the Skin
According to accounts of the community’s history, the tradition began around 1890, when Parsuram Bharadwaj, a Dalit man, was reportedly denied entry to a temple. He began inscribing Ram’s name on his body, and the practice subsequently spread within the community.
For the Ramnamis, the inscriptions are an expression of devotion that they carry with them rather than confining their faith to a place of worship. The name of Ram also appears on their clothing, while devotional singing and community gatherings remain part of their cultural practices. Their story reflects how a community facing caste-based exclusion developed a distinctive way to express its religious identity.
A Tradition Across Generations
The Ramnami community’s customs have continued across generations, although the extent of body tattooing varies among its members. Education, employment and changing lifestyles have influenced how younger members engage with the tradition.
The community’s experiences have gained wider recognition through Ram-Nami, filmmaker Bharatbala Ganapathy’s documentary, which won the Best Documentary award at the 72nd National Film Awards. President Droupadi Murmu presented the award to Ganapathy on September 22, 2026. Chhattisgarh Culture Minister Rajesh Agrawal welcomed the recognition, describing it as an honour for the state’s folk traditions, spiritual heritage and cultural identity.
Kolkata Pandal Celebrates Their Story
The Ramnami community’s tradition has also inspired a Durga Puja theme in Kolkata. The Manicktala Chaltabagan Lohapatty Durga Puja Committee chose “Nishan: The Mark” as the theme for its 84th Durga Puja, drawing inspiration from the community’s practice of inscribing Ram’s name on its body.
Conceptualised by artist Aditi Chakraborty, the theme explores faith, identity and resistance to caste-based exclusion. Grammy Award-winning musician Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt composed a special musical piece for the theme, connecting the Ramnamis’ inscriptions with the idea of musical notes leaving their own mark. Members of the Chhattisgarh community were also present at the theme’s unveiling, bringing their living tradition into Kolkata’s festive celebrations.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The Ramnami community’s story is a reminder that faith should never be restricted by caste or social status. What began, according to accounts of the tradition, as a response to exclusion has become a distinctive expression of devotion and identity carried across generations.
Recognition through cinema and cultural celebrations can help bring lesser-known traditions into the public conversation, but meaningful change also requires confronting the discrimination that shaped their history. Preserving such heritage means respecting communities’ choices while ensuring that everyone enjoys equal dignity and freedom of worship.
How can we celebrate India’s diverse cultural traditions while building a society where no one faces discrimination because of their caste or beliefs?
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