thumb|A Soliga man
Sholaga, (, also spelled S(h)olega, S(h)oliga and S(h)ōlaga), is an ethnic group of India. Its members inhabit the mountain ranges mostly in the Chamarajanagar district of southern Karnataka and Erode district of Tamil Nadu. They are also found in Ramanagara district in smaller numbers. Many are concentrated in the Biligiriranga Hills and associated ranges, mainly in the talukas Yelandur, Kollegal and Chamarajanagar of Karnataka. The Soliga speak Sholaga, which belongs to the Dravidian family. Under Indian law, they are recognised as a scheduled tribe, they have a population of around 40,000.
Etymology
The term comes from śōla "forest" and -ga "people".
Origin
The Soliga tribe trace their origin to Karayya, son of the deity Maleya Mahadeshwara, swamy of Maleya Mahadeshwara Hills, Karnataka.
Groups
There are five sub groups of Soligas:
Occupation and social status
The Soliga used to practice shifting cultivation, but have more or less given up this practice now. They grow Ragi (Finger millet, Eleusine coracana) for subsistence. Their main source of income is harvesting and sale of Non-timber Forest Produce (NTFP) like honey, nellikai (gooseberry, Emblica officinalis), bamboo, Paasi (Lichen), algae, wild turmeric, Indian blackberry, soapnut and nennari (wild root). They also make baskets using bamboo.
Religion
Soliga people follow naturism and animism along with following Hindu practices and their main deities are Madeshwara, Rangaswamy of Biligirirangana Hills (who is considered the brother-in-law of the clan), Karayya, Kyate Devaru and Jadeswamy.