7 Extraordinary Tribes and Communities Across the World Worshiping Nature and Embracing Plant-Based Traditions

In a world where the preservation of nature and wildlife is paramount, these 7 tribes and communities stand out for their profound worship of nature and their commitment to a plant-based lifestyle. Embracing ancient traditions, they have forged a harmonious relationship with the environment, abstaining from hunting or consuming animals. Join us as we delve into the fascinating details of each community, their philosophies centered around reverence for nature, and the rituals and transitions that exemplify their devotion to a plant-based way of life.

1. The Rarámuri (Tarahumara) Tribe (Mexico)

Source: Plant-Based Poser/Youtube

The Rarámuri Tribe, residing in Mexico’s Copper Canyon region, has a rich tradition of worshipping nature. They predominantly follow a plant-based diet consisting of corn, beans, and squash, known as the “Three Sisters.” The Rarámuri people are renowned for their long-distance running traditions, which symbolize their deep connection with the natural world. Running barefoot or with minimal footwear, they traverse the rugged terrain of the canyons, showcasing their endurance and reverence for their ancestral lands.

2. The Jains (India)

Source: The Jain Vegan Initiative/Youtube

The Jain community, a religious group from India, espouses the principle of non-violence (ahimsa) towards all living beings. Jains follow a strict vegetarian or vegan lifestyle, avoiding harm to animals in any form. They believe that every living being possesses a soul and should be treated with compassion. Jains engage in rituals such as “Paryushan,” a period of intense self-reflection and fasting, to deepen their connection with nature and practice empathy towards all living creatures.

3. The Batak Tribe (Indonesia)

Source: Antalyn Babu/Youtube

The Batak Tribe, residing in the highlands of North Sumatra, Indonesia, has a unique cultural heritage centered around nature worship. Their religion is founded in the spirits of nature who, they believe, live in the rocks and the trees.

They predominantly follow a plant-based diet, emphasizing the consumption of locally grown fruits, vegetables, and grains. Traditionally, they only eat cassava, banana, sweet potato, ube, gabi, and coconuts. The Batak people celebrate “Sigale-gale,” a ritualistic dance performed by wooden puppets, symbolizing their reverence for ancestral spirits and the natural world. Through their intricate rituals and storytelling traditions, the Batak Tribe reinforces their deep spiritual connection with their surroundings.

4. The Shinto Practitioners (Japan)

Source: Cogito/Youtube

Shinto, a traditional Japanese religion, places great importance on the relationship between humans and nature. Shinto practitioners embrace a plant-based lifestyle as part of their reverence for the natural world. They believe that all things possess a divine essence and should be treated with respect. Shinto rituals, such as “Kagura” dances, are performed to express gratitude to deities associated with natural phenomena, such as the sun, mountains, and rivers. Through these rituals, practitioners reaffirm their connection with nature and their responsibility to protect it.

5. The Mapuche People (Chile and Argentina)

Source: Chile Travel/Youtube

The Mapuche people, indigenous to parts of Chile and Argentina, have a deep spiritual connection to the land and its wildlife. Traditionally, they followed a largely vegetarian diet, relying on crops like potatoes, quinoa, and maize, which are integral to their culture. The Mapuche people’s rituals, such as the “Ngillatun” ceremony, celebrate their connection with nature and seek blessings for the harvest and the well-being of all beings. These ceremonies involve offerings, music, and dance, expressing their gratitude and respect for the natural world.

6. The Vegans of the Hare Krishna Movement (International)

Source: Bric TV/Youtube

The Hare Krishna movement, a global spiritual organization, promotes a vegetarian or plant-based lifestyle as an integral part of their philosophy. They follow a vegan diet, emphasizing compassion for all living beings. The Hare Krishna community’s “Krishna Consciousness” practices, including meditation, devotional chants, and the offering of plant-based meals to deities, reflect their reverence for nature and their commitment to non-violence. Through their spiritual practices, they seek to cultivate a deep connection with the divine and the natural world.

7. Rastafarian Community (Jamaica and Worldwide)

Source: VICE News/Youtube

The Rastafarian community, originating in Jamaica and now present worldwide, embraces a plant-based lifestyle as a central tenet of their spiritual and cultural beliefs. Rastafarians follow a vegetarian or vegan diet known as “Ital,” which emphasizes natural, unprocessed foods. They believe in living in harmony with nature and treating their bodies as temples. The Rastafarian community’s practices, such as communal cooking, farming, and the use of natural herbs and remedies, reflect their commitment to a plant-based lifestyle and their connection to the Earth.

These 7 extraordinary tribes and communities worldwide reveal a profound connection between humanity and nature. Through their worship of nature and embrace of plant-based traditions, these diverse groups demonstrate a deep respect for the environment and a sustainable way of life that we can all learn from. As we navigate an increasingly interconnected world facing environmental challenges, the wisdom of these people serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving our planet and cultivating harmonious relationships with the natural world.

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Easy Ways to Help the Planet:

• Eat Less Meat: Download Food Monster, the largest plant-based Recipe app on the App Store, to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy. You can also buy a hard or soft copy of our favorite vegan cookbooks or browse through vegan recipes on One Green Planet.
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• Reduce Your Fast Fashion Footprint: Stand against fast fashion Pollution by supporting circular brands like Tiny Rescue, which create cause-based collections using recycled, zero-waste clothing designed to be returned and remade, ensuring it never ends up in a landfill.
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