Attributing divine energy to people, nature, animals and natural phenomena is known as animism. Many tribal communities still practice animistic religions. While many such groups within India have adopted Christianity, Hinduism, Islam or Buddhism, others still practice their own distinct animistic religion. In the northeast, the Khasi tribes of Meghalaya are one of the largest tribal groups that still follow indegenous customs and faith. Among the larger tribal groups, the Santals of Jharkhand and Odisha follow the “Saridharam,” while the Oraon and Munda groups of Madhya Pradesh follow the Sarna practice.

While none of these religions can be generalised, some of the common beliefs noticed among tribal religions are:

1. Worship of trees, forests and nature - Amongst those following the Sarna religion, a sacred grove or gram than, is revered. 
2. Worship of ancestors - Among the Ahom people of Assam, worship of ancestors and the spirits of the dead are common. 
3. Worship of natural elements - Followers of Kirat-Mundhum, a form of shamanism from Sikkim, believe in the powers of Mother Nature, the sun, the moon, wind, fire and their ancestors. Kirants celebrate Mother Nature by giving her offerings such as rice wine, a sacrificial rooster and rice among other things.