Odisha Review ISSN 0970-8669

Cultural Life of the Tribals of the Koraput Region

Rabindra Nath Dash

If one thinks of cultural history of primitive tribes Literarily the definition of their culture is so broad one must turn towards south Odisha, the hub of that we appreciate and accept every aspect of tribals. So this Koraput region, the domain of their life style which is associated with culture. tribals has become centre of study and research. In 1863 this region was under direct Although the tribal population in Odisha administration of British. The Government of India has around 25%, their contribution in the Act of 1919 declared the entire area of Koraput development process of the state is outstanding. district as Scheduled Area and the major tribes Their tradition and culture is broad and inhabiting the district have been declared as uncommon. And the cultural history of tribals of scheduled tribes. this undivided Koraput has special importance all over India. The tribal population consists of Normally the primitive tribes express the 53.74% in the undivided Koraput (now divided cultural identity through their custom, tradition, into 4 districts Koraput, Rayagada, Nawarangpur, festivals, dress and ornaments. Every tribe has a and Malkangiri) as per 2001 census. The certain place of origin and its spreading. They anthropologist study gives an account that there have their own oral and written language for are 62 types of tribes in Odisha. They all live in interaction of each other. The matrimonial alliance the above districts although their number is so of a tribe is arranged byits own community as small. As far as the population of a tribe is they oppose inter community marriage. Each tribe concerned the Bhumia, Bhatra, Gond, Koya, has its own social bond, administration, tradition Paraja, Kondh constitute above one lakh each. and judicial system. All these play a key role in While other 26 tribes population is around one maintaining law, youth dormitory, worship and thousand. enchanting, economic policy, collection of food, The Bonda and Didayi are considered as hunting, shifting agriculture and handicraft and so rare tribes because of their greatness and typicality on for their lively subsistence. of culture. Their domain and sphere of activity is Important features of tribal socio-cultural confined to the dense forest of Eastern Ghats and on the mountainous river. This aboriginal tribe is life :- divided into three communities viz, Munda 1. They live in relative isolation usually in hills (Austro-Asiatic), Dravidian and Indo-Asian. and forests in interior area.

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2. Their social identity is defined and redefined community. For the management and from time to time. development of family, the role of women 3. They constitute simple societies which are was very important. Family was the smallest socio-culturally homogenous. unit in the Kondh social organization. Life of a Kondh family was most peaceful and 4. They have their written and oral language or without conflict and tension. Wife and dialect for communication. Husband helped each other in such a manner 5. They have their rich cultural tradition and as the custom of their society dictated. It heritage although their social organization is was a social custom on the part of the simple. husband and wife not to address each other with name. Women did not speak the name Other cultural features:- of her husband and younger brother 1. Traditional Village Council – The village because if she was widowed, she might council is considered to be the cultural have to marry one of them. Women were centre of tribal village. The head of the allowed complete freedom before marriage. village council is the head of the village. He The women played a vital role for the is normally selected as per seniority and management of the family. In every manner talent. Almost all the tribe calls the head as the Kondh women were considered as an NAIKO. Assistance is chosen to help the important asset to the family. They not only head is called as CHALLAN. The duty of help the male-folk socially but also convening a meeting is rested on the economically. The women were not fond shoulder of BARIKA. The priest of the of gossip. They were busy as bees all round village is regarded as DEHURI. The head the year. They had no Purdah system. Most of Koya village is WARDE, the Paraja’s agricultural activities were done by women. the MUDULI, the Sauras the Women were capable to purchase the daily GOMANGO and so on. The religious head necessities of life from the market. They of Kondh community is the JANI who is were expert spinners. The Kondhs assisted by BIS-MAJHI during the time performed various festivals in a peculiar of meeting. way and in every festival women enjoyed 2. Youth dormitories:- The Youth dormitories equal status with men. (Dhangda,Dhangdi Basa) play a major role 4. Ceremony of tribals:- ceremonies are for keeping the tribal culture and tradition inseparable part of the way of life of tribals. afloat. And most of the tribe have such There are two types of ceremony so far as institution for unmarried youths. The boys observation at family level and community and the girls spend nights their in separate level is concerned. The family level room in the dormitories. This dormitory has ceremonies mainly include newly born another importance particularly choosing of babies, marriage and death. The naming life partner by the youth. ceremony of the newly born baby is 3. Position of women:- It is very interesting observed which is taken place on 21st day to note the role of women in the socio- after birth. There is also provision of prayer economic and cultural spheres of the Kondh and worship to the forefather for blessing.

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The ceremony also includes the drawing of Parab, Bhairabi Jatra,Nuakhai, Dhan-Nua, “Muruja and Jhoti” in tantric design. Dialli, Mandai and marriage ceremony. Similarly during the time of death rites there They put on their traditional dresses and is also the rule of drawing tantric design ornaments well on these occasions so as to and offering of non steam rice, wine, cocks, sing and dance in groups. The Pus Parab etc for pleasing the spirits of the dead. These and Chaiti Parab of almost all tribe of ceremonies are conducted in presence and Koraput region is recognized as main guidance of Jani, Sisa and Gurumai. festivals and Dhemsa, the popular dance is regarded as the best in the country. 5. Worship of nature:- All tribes are the worshipper of nature as they felt the A) Chaiti Parab:- The whole month of Chaitra presence of divinity in nature. Indeed, this (March-April) is celebrated as a holiday by is important from religious ground. They the tribals of this region. The month is spent give more emphasis on three elements of in feasting, night long dancing and singing nature. They worship the soil as mother and in expeditions into the forests together. earth, sun as religious god and water as the Men and boys go into forest for hunting. life giver. The aim and objectives of religious B) Pus Parab :- Pus Parab is observed in the objects are as follows (a) Prayer for month of Pausha (December – January ) in blessing (b) System of improved bread which men, women and children participate. earning (c) Worshipping and remembering After the rituals and sacrifices are made a of forefathers (d) Welfare of the world heap of wood is lit and people sing and (e) Recreation (f) Environment protection dance encircling the fire. The Bonda, Koya, and (g) Integration among communities. The Paraja, Didayi, Bhatra, Matia etc. observe religious practices go on in tribal culture all this festival with much pomp and pleasure. over the year. C) Ghanta Parab :- Ganta Parab is observed 6. Song, festivals and dance :- Other for three days in the month of Baisakha aspects that associate with tribal culture are (April). Ghanta means pot. Each such pot folk song, folk dance, fairs and festivals with four cakes, was offered to Thakurani which can not be ignored. They prefer to Penu along with a sacrificial animal by the perform song and dance in group rather than vow-taker who suffered from Small pox pairs or single. They play traditional tribal and Cholera. musical instruments such as drum, horn, D) Am-Nuakhai:- Am Nuakhai held among tamak, dungdunga etc. The expression of the tribals in the month of March. On this the parts of the body like eye, head, waist festival they take the first mango of the year and hand attract others and especially at the after worshipping their village gods and time of dance which is parallel to the tune goddesses. It is not a group festival but of musical instruments. Usually these types individual. of song and dance are organized at the time of fairs and festivals. The main festivals E) Amus:- It is held in the month of July. Each include Chaiti Parab, Pus Parab, Ghanta family member worships cow on the same Parab, Sim(bean) Parab, Aam (Mango) day. They go to their paddy field with milk,

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Dhup, Kendu leaf for worship. In this time they take a liquid food made from Ragi and occasion each member takes wine and goat, a few quantity of rice. Bamboo shoots are very pig, cocks are sacrificed. popular which is known as “Basta” in their language. The Saoras in their early morning and F) Dhan-Nua :- This is also Nuakhai. A feast sunset, go to the palm-tree for their wine. They will be arranged in all familes on which new also make chutneys of various kinds. For food rice is first eaten. At first they give the new the Bondas depend mainly on agriculture. They rice of the year to their gods. prefer for meat. Rats and mice were considered G) Dialli:- The tribals observed the Dialli delicious. The Kondhs did not eat snakes, lizards. festival in the month of February. The Vegetarian and non-vegetarian curries were milkman of their concerned master distribute generally prepared by boiling and adding only goat meats to their masters. In the evening chilies and salt. But gradually they learnt the use milkmen collect paddy and new clothes as of mustard oil and Mahul oil to make their curries. their presentation. The young villagers show The favourite drink of the people is prepared from their skill of fighting with sword and club. Mahua flower. This is known as Gardhan. 8. Method of treatment:- Among the H) Mandai:- Mandai is a festival like most primitive tribe of Odisha, there is the belief exhibition. It functions in the month of that disease is caused by hostile spirits, the ghosts February. All the village gods are invited to of the dead or due to the violation of some taboo. this function. Coloured clothes covering on They have their own doctors. In the realm of a long bamboo stick are known as the Lathi. netting the tribals are still living in the age of magic Each villager holds this stick and attends the with its practitioner. By their magical performances Mandai with drums. they also cure various kinds of disease like stomach trouble, fever etc. Before proper Dance (Dhemsa):- A popular dance form like treatment the tribal doctor or “Disan” called upon Dhemsa which is normally performed in every to attend a patient for diagnosis. For the diagnosis, village of Koraput is really fascinating. This is such what is known as “Chaula Khoja” any male a group dance which consists both men and relative of the patient brings a handful of rice which women of all ages. They perform the group dance the patient is made to touch. Indigenous methods knitting fingers of one another and with the tunes of treatment of the diseases among the tribal can of the instruments. Although all tribes perform the be divided into two categories namely 1. Magical Dhemsa only the Koya’s style and expression is cure and 2. Medicinal cure. In case of epidemics eye-catching. The Koya male put on the horns of like small pox, cholera or cattle disease they the bison during the dance. The beautiful song, believe that it is caused by the evil influence of the dance, musical instruments associated with these Duma (Ghost). The family has to celebrate a performances by the tribals and their colourful worship to village goddess (Thakurani). costumes and ornaments are the greatest 9. Education:- Education is one of the attractions for the viewers. aspects of tribals development. Now they realize 7. Food and drink:- For food tribes depend the importance of education. The government mainly on agriculture. Mango, tamarind, jack-fruit through the department of Tribal and Rural and other fruits are largely collected. In the day Welfare have been trying its best for the

80 April - 2016 Odisha Review ISSN 0970-8669 educational development of the tribals. Ashram 3. Patra, D. (2010) Mudulipadara Loke, Sanshrita Schools, Sevashram and Training centres have Prakashani, Malkangiri, Odisha. opened by the government for educating the tribal 4. Census of Odisha (2001),Odisha Census people. Stipends are granted to tribal students Directorate, Odisha, Bhubaneswar. for higher education. 5. Elwin, V. (1950) Bondo Highlanders, Oxford University Press, Indian Branch, Bombay. 10. Art and crafts:- The artistic skill of the tribal people is not only manifested in their dance 6. Bell, R.C.S (1945)Orissa District Gazetteer, Koraput, Odisha Government Press Cuttack. and music but also in their dress and ornaments, wall paintings, wood carving and toy making 7. Adivasi Vol.xxvi, no. December 1986. Tribal and etc.The Saura paintings are intimately related to Harijan Research –cum-Training Institute, Bhubaneswar. religious beliefs and drawn in order to appease demigods and spirits. But through art and craft 8. Barbasa M. Boal, The Kondhs, (Bhubaneswar ) 1984. their self image and aesthetic sensibility are visualized. 9. William Macpherson, The Reports on the Kondhs of Ganjam and Cuttack districts (Madras 1863). Conclusion: 10. N. Pattnaik and P.S. Das Pattnaik, The Kondh of The tribal culture is so much liberal and Odisha (Bhubaneswar) 1982. simple. A deep observation, study and analysis 11. L.N. Sahu, Jeypore Tribes (Cuttack) 1942. regarding tribal culture will clarify our 12. N.D. Majumdar, The Original Tribes of Odisha, understanding. On account of these above reasons vol.6 (1953). the tribals of these parts are considered as simple, 13. R. Nath Saora, Tribes of India,(New Delhi), 1950. truthful and freedom – oriented. Although 14. John Campbell, The Wild Tribes of Khondistan, modernization and the process of globalization has (London ) 1964. already entered into the hills of Koraput region changing their life style; yet their costumes, 15. Elain, Religion of an Indian tribe. tradition associated with cultural history will remain evergreen in the world. References: 1. Government of Odisha (1990) Tribes of Odisha, Tribal Welfare Department, Bhubaneswar. Rabindra Nath Dash , Lect. in History, Gopalpur College, 2. Mohanty K.K & authors (2006), Tribes of Gopalpur on Sea (Ganjam), E-mail – rabidash1973 Koraput COATS, Koraput. @gmail.com.

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