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The Andhras are originally believed to be
Dravidians. However, some theories suggest that they were Aryans by
origin, who moved south of the Vindhyas, and eventually mixed with the
non-Aryans. Andhra Pradesh is home of a diverse range of tribes present in
large numbers. The Lambadies ('Banjaras'), the 'Koyas', the 'Bagatas', the
'Yenadis', the 'Chenchus', the 'Gadabas' and the 'Yerukalas' are the
well-known tribes of the state.
The Simple & Sober Lifestyle
The most striking feature of tribal life is their simplicity. Their
demands are few; the forest is able to provide them with everything.
Professionally they are food-gatherers, hunters, small farmers and nomads.
The tribals worship nature. Each tribe has its totem. It may be a tree or
animal. The object of worship could simply be a wooden pole or a stone or
a group of stones arranged in a circle. Music,
dance and craft are important pastimes.
Crafts involve making of useful items like basket weaving or making
terracotta pots.
Inhabited by many large tribes, Andhra
Pradesh presents a rich wealth of traditional folk and
tribal dances.
'Dhimsa',
'Lambadi', 'Bathakamma',
'Mathuri', 'Dhamal',
'Dappu' are a few
famous tribal dances. Liquor, fermented toddy juice or fermented rice or
garlands made from the flowers of the 'Mohua' tree are offered to everyone
visiting a family in the tribal village. It is considered offensive to
refuse it. During every ritual and festival
liquor flows like water.
The Koyas: The Koyas are supposed to have migrated from Bastar in
Madhya Pradesh and form the bulk of the aboriginal population of Adilabad,
Warangal, East Godavari and Krishna districts. They are nomadic by nature
and practice shifting cultivation. They are divided into two sections, the
Langadaris and the Gonus. The Koyas of East Godavari district are well
built.
The Lambadies (Banjaras): Also known as 'Sugalis', Lambadies are
found in Rayalaseema, Warangal and
Mahaboobnagar districts.
They collect firewood and other minor products from the forest and sell it
in towns and villages. It is said that formerly they worked as carriers,
transporting goods and merchandise on bullock backs, but they have now
taken to cultivation.
Hill Tribes: The hill tribes live mostly in the agency areas. They
have many castes, and some of them apparently have come over from the
Orissa side of
the frontier, because their
language
is Oriya. The 'Mokadorlu', however, are distinct from the rest. So are the
'Bhagatas' and 'Ranas' who wear the sacred thread. So also are the
'Jatapus' and the 'Jatapu Doras'.
The 'Parojas' are the most numerous among the Oriya speaking tribes. There
are seven different types of them. The 'Gadabas' are palanquin-bearers as
well as cultivators. The 'Savaras' are divided into 'primitive' who live
in the hill areas of 'Gunupur' in Orissa, and the ' civilised' ones who
inhabit the Palakonda hills in Srikakulam
district.
Their chief centre of habitation is the 6,000 square miles of mountainous
territory in the East Godavari and
Vishakhapatnam districts.
About 20 tribes live in them speaking Dravidian and 'Mudari' dialects.
Leading a primitive, and in many ways precarious existence, they are a
happy-go-lucky folk, picturesque in their costumes, and greatly addicted
to dance and
music.
'Savaras' are the most notable among them. Their homes are the lofty
hills and deep mountain valleys. They are ingenious people who have built
bunds on mountain streams to water their fields, and even their villages
show systematic designs. The huts are in parallel rows indicating their
sense of orderliness.
The
Chenchus: The Chenchus live in the Nallamalai hills of
Kurnool district. They are very
peaceful and inoffensive people who acquire a livelihood on roots, wild
game and fish, and only occasionally cultivate millets in small patches of
fields. This tribe is badly off, and unless they take to full time
cultivation there is no hope for them. And yet, it is difficult to wean
them from their habit of wandering off into jungles in search of minor
forest produce such as honey, wild berries and tubers that they sell in
the villages and towns in an effort to eke out a livelihood.
The popular legend is that when Lord Narayana took on Narasimhavatara,
the Goddess Lakshmi was born in the Chenchu tribe, and both were living
here happily. This love of Lord Narasimha with Goddess Lakshmi as
'Chencheta', a Chenchu bride, is famous in many folk songs of the place.
The Yenadis: Considered partly tribal, their origin is obscure.
Their men are tall, dark, lanky, their muscles soft and flabby, and their
cheekbones prominent. They are good 'shikaris' (hunters) and specialise in
trapping hares, rats, cobras and leopards.
The Yerukalas:
The Yerukalas are semi-tribal people who had been reluctantly granted
status as 'Shudras'. They are basket weavers who often live in separate
villages and speak a dialect different from that of Telugu.