Examining how increasing Urban Influences are Transforming the traditional Cultural Practices of Tribes in Purulia

This paper aims to theoretically examine the transformative impacts of urbanization on the traditional cultural practices of tribal communities in Purulia, West Bengal, through the lens of sociological and anthropological theories. Utilizing frameworks such as cultural modernization theory, acculturation theory, and world-systems theory, the study explores the complex interactions between indigenous traditions and expanding urban forces. The paper argues that urbanization, as a systemic global process, reconfigures indigenous identities, cultural expressions, and social institutions, resulting in both cultural erosion and hybridization. By situating the Purulia tribes within broader theoretical discourses, this work contributes to understanding the dialectics of tradition and modernity in indigenous societies.