Once dismissed as backward, India’s tattoo culture is experiencing a profound renaissance. What began as sacred tribal markings thousands of years ago has evolved into one of the most powerful forms of personal healing and identity in contemporary India. This is the story of how centuries-old traditions are finding new meaning on modern skin.
Before tattoos became Instagram-worthy, they were a survival. Archaeological evidence suggests that tattooing in India dates back to prehistoric times, with rock paintings over 10,000 years old depicting figures adorned with body art, making this practice one of humanity’s oldest forms of self-expression.
