In Godavari Valley, the Koya tribe faces a cultural crisis as raids by the Special Enforcement Bureau threaten their cherished tradition of Mahua liquor consumption.
About Koya Tribe:
Koya are one of the few multi-racial and multi-lingual tribal communities in India.
They live in the forests, plains and valleys on both sides of the Godavari River, in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Chhattisgarh and Odisha.
They are said to have migrated to central India from their original home in Bastar, northern India.
Language:
The Koya language, also called Koyi, is a Dravidian language. It is closely related to Gondi and has been strongly influenced by Telugu.
Most Koya speak either Gondi or Telugu, in addition to Koyi.
Occupation:
Traditionally, they were pastoralistsandshifting cultivators, but now-a-days, they have taken to settled cultivation supplemented by animal husbandry and seasonal forest collections.
They grow Jowar, Ragi, Bajra and other millets.
Society and Culture:
All Koya belong to one of five subdivisions called gotras. Every Koya is born into a clan and he cannot leave it.
They have a patrilineal and patrilocal family. The family is called "Kutum". The nuclear family is the predominant type.
Monogamy is prevalent among the Koyas.
They practice their own ethnic religion, but also worship a number of Hindu gods and goddesses.
Many Koya deities are female, the most important being the "mother earth."
They maintain community funds and grain banks at the village level to help the needy families and provide food security.
They either bury or cremate the dead. They erect menhirsin memory of the dead.
Their main festivals are Vijji Pandum (seeds charming festival) and KondalaKolupu (festival to appease Hill deities).
They perform a robust, colourful dance called Permakok (Bison horn dance) during festivals and marriage ceremonies.
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