Tribes

JATAPUS::

Jatapus are primarily residing in the forest and hill areas in Vizianagaram district particularly in the Mandals of GLPuram, Kurupam and Komarada and they built their houses with forest wood and mud walls as ancient practice, but their practice was almost reduced due to introduction/implimentation of housing programmes in agency areas and pucca houses were constructed where road connectivity is available. They spoke telugu besides their own language “JATAPU”. Population of the Jatapus is 44%, out of the total tribal population in the district. Shifting cultivation (PODU) is their main occupation and grown Red Gram, Ragi, Jowar, Bajra and other, millets. They do not have nutrition’s foods. People fed on Ragi malt, Mango seed malt and other vegetables. They eat beef and pork. They procure minor forest products viz. Tamarind, Gum, Hill brooms, Fire wood etc., and sell those products in weekly shandies and purchase essential commodities for daily consumption. Their living conditions are very pathetic.

They celebrate “KANDI PANDAGA” as an important festival and worship “GODLAMMA DEVATHA(Goddess)” in the festival being celebrated for one week and offer animal sacrifice to the Goddess. The women perform “DIMSA DANCE” during the festival. an animal sacrificed Besides this festival there are an other Festivals like Kothamma pandaga, Tenkala pandaga and Gramadevatha panda are also been celebrated and to offer Hens and cocks sacrifices to the goddess. They also offer country liquor to the gods and goddesses.

Marriages are made with the consent of elders of both families. The practice of the matrimonial customs are one is the parents of the bridegroom along with elders of the Village has to go to the brides houses and asked “water for wash the legs”. If the bride/her parents are willing to perform matrimonial relations, they offer water to them, other wise they won’t. The second one is “Cheyyapattukovadam”i.e. unmarried male to catch hand of the unmarried female during the celebration of the festivals. The practice of “TAPPU” i.e. penalties also appeared in the community regarding marriages. Liquor is supplied in marriage occasions.

All Jatapus strictly follows Taboos and Customs of their ancestors. Still they are incants and living far away to modernization.They are exploited by Petty trades of Plain areas and Local money lenders. They are not getting remunerative prices for their products. They are depending on other plain area people for anything. They do not welling to come out their living places. They hesitate to live with other plain area people.

KONDA DORA::

Konda Doras are most of them residing in plain areas. They are living in thatched houses. Population of Kondadoras is 24%, out of the total tribal population in the district. Their main occupation is agriculture and also doing fishing activity to eke out their livily hood. These are mainly concentrated in mandals of Saluru, Pachipenta and Makkuva in TSP area, Parvathipuram. They spoken language is Telugu.They celebrate “PILLI PANDAGA” as an important festival in the month of February and worship “GODDESS” in the festival being celebrated for three days and offer animal sacrifice to the Goddess. The women perform “DIMSA DANCE” during the festival. Besides this festival there are another Festivals like Jakara devata, Kandipandaga, etc. are also been celebrated and offer sacrifices. Marriages are being done with the consent of the elders of both fields. At the time of marriage, country liquor is being provided to the Bride groom family.

SAVARA::

Savara community is found inhabiting mainly hill slopes and near hill streams particularly in the mandals of GLPuram and Kurupam in Vizianagaram District. Savaras is considered as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). Their population is 31983(13% of total ST population in the district). They speak their own Savara dialect besides Telugu. Savaras usually living in interior and hill tops areas. The main occupation of the community is Agriculture, Horticulture and collection of minor forest produce. Literacy rate is very low in this community. In orders to improve the educational standards, the Govt. has provided and run by this ITDA at Gummalaxmipuram exclusively for PTGs. ITDA has also provided Savara language Teachers in Govt. Primary Schools(Tribal Welfare) in Savara inhabiting habitations to teach their own language to the children. Their main occupation is shifting cultivation (Podu cultivation) and terrace cultivation on hill slopes besides dry and wet farming. They cultivate redgram, Ragi, Jowar, otha pulses. Rice is their staple food. The sell Tamarind, Gum i shandies and in turn they purchase essential commodities for their daily consumption. They eat beef, particularly stored beef and regularly consume country liquor.They celebrate festivals of “PULI PANDAGA and AGAMA PANDUGA” as an important festival and offer animal sacrifices. Besides this they also celebrate “KANDI PANDAGA, MAMIDITENKALA PANDAGA, KOTHA DANYAM PANDAGA” festival and offers sacrifices.Their marriages are done with the consent of elders. Country liquor provides during marriage celebrations as a tradition.

GADABA ::

Gadabas are predominantly found in Saluru, Pachipenta, JMvalasa and Parvathipuram mandals and small number in other plain areas in the district. They live in huts. Their population is 19164 (9.5% of total ST population of the district). Gadabas speak their own dialect called” GADABA”.
At present Gadabas are cultivators and agricultural labourers. Those who inhabit the hilly areas, practice shifting cultivation and they cultivate Ragi, Red gram, Niger in their Podu lands. They collect Non-Timber Forest Produce for household consumption and sale.

They worship the Goddessof “Sankudevudu, Peddadevudu, Modakondamma, Jakaridevatha, Ippapolamma, Desithalli, Bangarammathalli” and they celebrate festivals like, Pillipandaga, Eetelapanduga, Ashadapanduga (Korrakotha), Kothamasa and Maridamma Panduga of which “PILLI PANDAGA” is most important festival and offer sacrifices. In addition to the above festivals, they also worship the spirits of their ancestors.Gadabas have their own traditional council headed by a traditional village headman known as “Kulapedda”. In the fields of religious activities, “Desariâ” or “Pujaria” officiates all the religious ceremonies. Gadaba is considered as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).Marriages are done with consent of both panties i.e. the mode of acquiring mate among Gadabas are marriage by negotiation by way of approaching the Bridegroom parents along with Village elders has to go to bride house and asked that “MEEINTIKI PAPPUKUDUKI VASTAM”. If the bride/her parents are willing to perform matrimonial relations with them, they offer water to them to wash their legs, other wise they said no. And there is another mode of acquiring mates is by mutual love. Widow re-marriage and divorce are permitted.