The Tharu tribe is found mainly in the Terai region of which of the following Indian states?

The Tharu tribe lives in the Terai region at the foothills of the Himalayas, including the Udham Singh Nagar district of Uttarakhand. Tharus are also found in the Terai areas of Uttar Pradesh (such as Lakhimpur Kheri, Bahraich and Balrampur), Bihar (West Champaran) and in large numbers in Nepal.

About the Tharu tribe:

• They are one of the largest indigenous communities of the Terai, a belt of marshy grasslands and forests south of the Himalayan foothills.
• They are recognised as a Scheduled Tribe in Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
• Their name is believed by some to come from "Thar", and according to a popular tradition, some Tharus claim descent from Rajput ancestors who came from the Thar desert, though historians debate this.
• Historically, they were among the few people who could live in the malaria-prone Terai forests; studies suggest they have some genetic resistance to malaria.
• They live mainly by farming (rice, wheat, maize), fishing and animal husbandry.
• Their traditional houses are made of mud, wood and grass, often painted with colourful designs.
• They celebrate festivals such as Holi, Diwali and Maghi (Maghe Sankranti), and perform folk dances such as the "Jhumra" and "stick dance".
• Women traditionally play an important role in the household and in rituals.

Other tribes of Uttarakhand:

Bhotia, Jaunsari, Buksa and Raji (Banraji, a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group).

Tribes of the other states in the options:

• Kerala: Paniya, Kurichiya, Irula and the Cholanaikkan (one of the most isolated tribes).
• Odisha: Santhal, Kondh, Bonda and Juang; Odisha has the largest number of tribal communities (62).
• Nagaland: Angami, Ao, Konyak, Lotha and Sumi.

Why not the other options?

• ✗Kerala has tribes such as the Paniya and Irula.
• ✗Odisha has tribes such as the Kondh and Bonda.
• ✗Nagaland has Naga tribes such as the Angami and Ao.