Women in a remote tribe used to wear large nose plugs and dark facial tattoo to deter tribal raiders, a practice which is on the verge of disappearing. 

Photograph by Shatabdi Chakrabarti / VCG Photo

The unusual practice is dying out.

Photograph by Shatabdi Chakrabarti / VCG Photo

The migratory tribe, who call themselves Tanis, have long been settled in South Tibet near the border with India.

Photograph by Shatabdi Chakrabarti / VCG Photo

According to photographer Shatabdi Chakrabarti, who traveled far to access the community in October 2016, the Tanis have a rich oral tradition, with most of their history converted into folk tales and few written records. The Tani's tales have been passed from generation to generation, stating that the practice of implanting plugs into nostrils was done to all adult Tani women, to prevent them from being attacked by tribal raiders. 

Photograph by Shatabdi Chakrabarti / VCG Photo

Each time the tribe was attacked, Tani women feared being kidnapped.

Photograph by Shatabdi Chakrabarti / VCG Photo

A vertical dark tattoo line from their foreheads to the chin is believed to have the same function, as it makes the women uglier, and less attractive to would-be kidnappers. 

Photograph by Shatabdi Chakrabarti / VCG Photo

Photograph by Shatabdi Chakrabarti / VCG Photo

‍The tradition has not been practiced since the 1970s, and now only the elderly in the community bear the hallmarks of this centuries-old tradition.

Photograph by Shatabdi Chakrabarti / VCG Photo

The tribe is also famous for its farming methods. 

Tanis worship the Donyi (Sun) and the Polo (Moon), practicing their own religion known as Donyi-Polo, according to Tom Wyke from Daily Mail together with another photographer Cezary Wyszynski, who reported their story in 2015.