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| The Indian cultural heritage comprise of not only Great tradition but also simple but rich cultural heritage of tribals living in the forest clad mountains of India. The 35 tribal groups living in the State of Andhra Pradesh have got their own distinct culture. Some of the tribal groups have their own dialects. They can be classified into the following three linguistic families. |
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Linguistic family |
Dialects of Tribals |
| 1. |
Dravidian |
Gondi, Koya, Kubi, Kui, Kolami, Yerukula |
| 2. |
Mundari |
Savara |
| 3. |
Indo-Aryan |
Lambada or Banjara |
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Social Structure:
The social structure of tribals is based on exogamous clan system. Some of the tribal groups like Gond, Koya, Kolam etc., have phratry system. The clans of tribals are totemic in nature. Some of the totemic objects of tribals are: |
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Pangi = Kite |
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Vanthala = Snake |
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Killo = Tiger |
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Gollori = Monkey |
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Korra = Sun |
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Matya = Fish |
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Kimudu = Bear. |
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Tribals pay special reverence towards these totemic objects.Tribals follow various methods in acquiring their mates. Some of the modes in acquiring mates are: |
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Marriage by mutual love and elopement. |
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Marriage by capture |
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Marriage by exchange |
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Marriage by service |
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Marriage by negotiations |
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Tribal society is patrilineal and patriarchal. Widow remarriages are permitted among tribal communities.
Tribals preserved their cultural identity through a code of conduct. They have their own customary laws to maintain their code of conduct. These customary laws are based on the beliefs, values, traditions and world view of each tribe and their social heritage. The tribals have their own traditional tribal kula panchayat to maintain code of conduct and the traditional panchayat is headed by 'Nayak' or 'Peddamanishi'.The head of the panchayat is assisted by a few elderly persons of the village and one messenger called 'Bariki' or 'Chalan'.
The disputes like divorce, extra marital relations, theft, tribe exogamy, land disputes,intra and inter village disputes, marriage by capture, marriage by elopement etc., are dealt by traditional tribal panchayat. |
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Arts and Crafts of tribals
Konda Savaras living in Srikakulam and Vizianagaram districts have their own traditional art known as 'Ideesung'. They draw some designs depicting their socio-economic activities on the walls of their houses and offer prayers to their ancestral spirits to avert diseases, to promote fertility of crops etc. |
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The Yerukulas living in plain areas of Andhra Pradesh make different types of baskets with bamboo. Like wise, the Kolams inhabiting the agency tracts of Adilabad district and Konda Reddis of Khammam, Warangal, West Godavari and East Godavari districts also prepare bamboo baskets.
The Yanadis of Nellore, Prakasam and Chittoor districts prepare mats.
Kapu Savaras living in Srikakulam district prepare masks with paper. The Naikpods inhabiting Adilabad district prepare masks of their deities with wood.
Festivals of tribals: Tribals celebrate various festivals for the welfare of community and their cattle. The important festivals of tribals are:
Chaitra festival : This is one of the important festival celebrated with joy during the month of March-April in the agency areas of Visakhapatnam, East Godavari and Khammam districts. During this festival they sanctify the seeds which are going to be broadcasted with blood of a fowl and all male members go to forest for hunting. The men are not allowed to enter the village unless they hunt atleast small game.
Kothala Panduga : The tribals do not consume fresh crops unless they offer it to their deities or ancestral spirits. They first offer their new crops to their deities ancestral spirits by sacrificing a fowl and then only start eating of those crops and fruits. |
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Sammakka-Saralamma fair
It is celebrated once in two years at Medaram a sleepy Koya village in the midst of thick forests of Warangal district. This is traditionally a fair of Koyas. But lakhs of non-tribals also participate in the festival with much devotion and traditional gaiety. |
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Keslapur Jathra
This is an important festival of Gonds. The persapen of seven divine ancestor group of Gonds is called 'Nagoba'. It is a snake deity whose temple is found at Keslapur village of Indervelly mandal of Adilabad district. The phratry members especially Mesram (Padi) clan people from different parts of not only from Andhra Pradesh but also from Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh attend to this festival during full moon day in the month of January-February. |
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Agam festival
Konda Savaras of Srikakulam and Vizianagaram districts celebrate this festival to appease their dead ancestors. They celebrate this festival for every five to ten years. They offer prayers to their dead ancestors by sacrifying buffaloes. |
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Teej festival
This is an important festival of Lambadas. During this festival, they erect a platform and keep baskets filled with earth and natural manure. The maidens dibble bengal gram seeds and water regularly till they germinate. During this festival all the women folk dance round the platform. |
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Ghusadi dance:
This is performed by Gonds of Adilabad district. They wear head gears decorated with peacock feathers. Their body is smeared with ash. They wear a small lion cloth of cotton or of black woollen rugs around their waist. Bushy beards and moustaches made of animal hair or fibre of plant are also worn. They hold 2 feet length wooden rod with their right hand which symbolises their god. During dandari festival which is celebrated during Diwali festival, they perform this type of dance. The musical instruments they use include Gumela, Para, Turbli, Dhol, Dappu, Pepri and Khali-kom. Gonds perform dandari in tune with the music performed by Pardhans. |
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Dimsa dance
It is performed by tribals of Visakhapatnam agency area. There are fifteen tribal groups in Visakhapatnam district. All the tribal groups perform this dance. In almost all festivals and marriage occassions they perform this dance by singing songs. During chaitra festival which they celebrate for one month, they enjoy by performing this dance. There are several types of dimsa dances of which, seven types are important. Viz: 1) Bod dimsa 2) Gunderi dimsa 3) Goddibeta 4) Pothar thola 5) Bhag dimsa 6) Kunda dimsa and 7) Baya dimsa. |
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Mayura dance: The Khond, a Primitive Tribal Group inhabiting the agency area of Visakhapatnam district perform this dance. The male dancers decorate themselves like peacock by tying two bundles of peacock feathers around their waist and on their head and dance.
Khonds depict various stages of marriage by negotiations and divorce while performing the dance. They perform dance intune with the flute played by two musicians. |
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Bison-horn dance:
This is performed by Koyas of Andhra Pradesh. They wear head gears prepared with bison horns and by playing with big cylindrical drums they perform dance. They imitate Bisons while performing this dance. |
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Lambada
dance
Lambadas or Banjaras also perform a colourful dance during their festival and marriage occassions. The women folk wear colourful costumes and ornaments. In tune with 'Dappu', the women folk constituting 15-20 members perform dance. They form into a circle and by stretching their hands up and moving their legs they perform dance. |
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