Recently, 114 tribal people from the Hakki Pikki tribal community in Karnataka got title deeds to the land they had been cultivating for about a century.
About Hakki Pikki Tribe:
Hakki Pikkis (Hakki in Kannada means ‘bird’ and Pikki means ‘catchers’) are a semi-nomadic tribe, traditionally of bird catchers and hunters.
It is one of the major tribal communities in Karnataka. They also reside in the Western and Southern states of India, mostly near forest areas.
The community migrated from Northern India, mainly Gujarat and Rajasthan, and is now mainly concentrated in Shivamogga, Davanagere, and Mysuru district of Karnataka.
They are recognized as a Scheduled Tribe in India.
Occupation:
After the implementation of stricter wildlife laws, the tribe changed its occupation from hunting to selling spices, flowers, Ayurveda formulations, and herbal oils.
They now travel globally to sell these products, especially in the African continent, where there is a demand for cheaper alternatives to Western medicine.
Language:
Despite being surrounded by Dravidian languages and living in southern India, the community speaks an Indo-Aryan language.
Their mother tongue was designated as 'Vaagri' by scholars.
UNESCO has listed 'Vaagri' as one of the endangered languages.
Rituals and customs:
The tribe follows Hindu traditions and celebrates Hindu festivals.
The tribe prefers cross-cousin marriages. The society is matriarchal, where the groom gives dowry to the bride’s family.
The eldest son in a family is not supposed to cut his hair so that he can be identified easily.
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