This is the second post to , “ When the Tongue stops, the Folk ends ”, blog series ( check every monday ) started with a aim to bring indigenous communities of India to the forefront of internet community, highlighting the richness of their culture and tradition.
Read the second article: Once upon a time: The largest tribe
The constantly changing weather these days reminds me of the rapidly changing conditions of our country. With so much development in the past few years, people feel that the good days are indeed near. This can also be attributed to the fact , that we have youth like Kranthi Kiran Sodem, from the Koya tribe of Andhra Pradesh. A Btech graduate currently pursuing a Diploma in Panchayati Administration he feels strongly to work for his people.
Koya tribe is mainly situated in Andhra Pradesh and in parts of Western Ghats. They speak Koya language, belonging to the Dravidian family and inspired by Telugu.
A broader look at the lifestyle of the Koya people shows us that they are great hunters. Their humorous stories revolve around hunting in daily life, such as forgetting to take water along, drinking palm tree alcohol for better ain. Often ended up hunting two-three birds with these mistakes.
The Koya people are really attached to the mother nature and worship many animals and natural elements. A deeper insight into their life tells us that people are very social and hard-working. They face very little health-related problems throughout the year.
The Koya consciousness is said to be revolving around Sammakka — a tribal woman, who existed in the 13th century. She is said to have magical powers as she was found playing with a tiger in the forests. Sammakka, her daughter Sarakka, and son Jampanna organized the tribals to resist the Kakatiya invasion of tribal areas. She has said to have mobilized thousands of tribals to put a brave fight against the Kakatiyas around the Jampanna rivulet. Thus she became the powerful image of tribal self-respect and tribal self-rule and gradually attained the status of a Goddess.
Every two years, Koyas and other tribes come together to celebrate the heroism of Sammakka and her daughter in Sammakka-Sarakka Jatra. This gala fest is unlike any other tribal festival or carnival in India.
These peasant hunters enjoy dance and music and celebrate birth, marriage and death alike. You can tell a man is Koya by his alluring headgear. Made of polished buffalo horns with a veil of cowrie shells, they don’t reveal their faces as they play to make their women dance. What makes these headgears a delight is their top decorated with hornbill feathers. These cowrie-shell veils wards off the evil eye. Women too wear feathers tied with red ribbons while performing the folk dance. Koyas are turning towards modernism, but don’t you want to see them in their natural joie de vivre form.
However, due to urbanization people are moving out villages for better future plans. They are also facing a hard time during the rainy season with the newfound illness malaria and dengue is common. Despite this majority of members want to keep devoting some part of their time to the community for development and to cherish the old-time rituals.
One thing we all can learn from Koya people is to live life to the fullest, enjoying and celebrating each and every occasion of their lives.
