CULTURAL PROFILE

Updated On :28.06.2011

Kandha Tribes :The word Kandha is spelt variously which  are synomanous such as Kond,Khond, Kandha. But they identify themselves as Kuilaku or Kuinga. The language they speak as Kui, which has no script.

 The Kandhas are identify from their names. Some writers have attempted to traceout the Telegu derivation from the word Konda means hills. Those living on the hill tops are  named as Kandha. It is a fact that the kandha like to leave in hill tops and their subject people the Panos liked to live beneath their settlement. The common surnames of  Kandhas are Pradhan, Mallick, Konhar, Majhi. And those worship deities have surnames like Dehury, Jharkar, Jani etc. According to the 2001 census the ST population of the district is 3.36 lakhs which constitutes 51.96% of the total population.

Ethnographic Records :  Different views have been given by different authorities about identity of Kandhas.

• Dalton describe the Kandhas as tall as average Hindus and much darker in complexion.

 

• McPherson described the Kandhas as faithful to friends, devoted to their  Chiefs, Resolute, Brave, hospitable, Laborious.

 The Kandhas have their loyalty to their erstwhile feudatory chiefs in Orissa and elsewhere. They are treated as valiant worriers and discharged their services very faithfully to their rulers. They offered their valuable services at the time of freedom movement .To name a few among them are Chakara Bisoyi and Dohra Bisoyi.

Types of Kandha's : According to the area of habitation Kandhas are classified into three classes viz.

• Kutia

• Malua /Malia

• Dongria

• Desia

        The Kutia Kondhas are found mainly in Kotgarh,Tumudibandh and Belgarh area of Balliguda Sub-division.  The Dongria  live in high lands of hilly area in the District. The Desia or Oriya Kandhas live in plain areas with the non-tribal.

Dresses, food habits and houses : The dress of the Kandha's is very simple.

• Dresses :

• The men wear a long and narrow cloth which passed round the waste and between the legs, the ends of this cloth are brightly colored and hang down behind like a tall. The Kandha men used to have long hair which they fastened in front by knot, in which they invariably stuck cigars, comb, metal pins etc.

• The women wear two clothes, one around waist and another for   upper portion of the body. The Kutia Kandha women wear only one loin cloth.   Thy have intense love for ornaments  and wear gold and silver necklaces, ear-rings, nose-rings and heir ornaments. Colored beads  generally used as necklaces.  They borne the entire rim of the ear with silver rings. They tattoo their faces before marriage. The Kutia Kandha women don't have tattoo on their faces. Most of the old customs among the Kandhas are now fast disappearing.

• Food Habits :

  • Kandhas eat rice with boiled green leaves and vegetables,. They use scoop made of leaves for taking food, use peja (gruel of rice) as a sick diet. They are very fond of meat on social and religious functions, but don't take beef, fish is taken when available.

  • They smoke and chew tabacco leaves. Both men and women consume excessively Salapa and Mohua liquor on all occasions.

• Houses :

  • Houses made up  of wooden walls(planks) and bamboo splits with a thatching of forest grass and leaves. Generally neat and tidy but lacks ventilation. Domestic animals and residents are all huddled in two or three rooms. Doors are made up of bamboo splits designed artistically.

Rituals in the Society :

• Child Birth :  The pollution in connection with child birth ends on the fifth day. On that day father of the child sacrifices a fowl and offers cooked meat, rice and liquor to the ancestors so that no ill may befall the child. Some house holds perform this ceremony on the 7th day. After one month hair on the head of child shaved off and a feast is given to the neighbors.

• Death : The dead bodied are burnt except the case of pregnant women where the dead bodies buried. On the following day priest purified all the people who attended the funeral by sprinkling some oil over their heads with a small broom made up of twigs or blade of grass. After a few days they renew all the earth vessels and perform a sacrifice giving a feast to neighbors and relatives.

Occupation :

• Agriculture is main occupation. 70% of the land are unproductive. People are still practising primitive method of cultivation i.e. shifting cultivation. Turmeric, Ginger, Arrowroot  and other spices are main produce of the land.

• Collection of Minor Forest Produce(MFP).

Dance :   

• Dhangeda - Dhangedi : Otherwise known as Loar-Enda dance performed by Kutia and Kandha. They use silver coin chains, bangles and a musical instrument known as Dheka for performance. Dadra is the tal of the song.

• Krahenda : A hunting and warrior dance popular among SC.  Drums and flutes are the instruments used.  This dance is in its vanishing stage.

• Singha Badya : observed among SC people of Balliguda Sub-Division. ASSART, a voluntary organisation, of G.Udaygiri has retained this dance form.

• Danda Nata : Usually performed by the Ghasis(SC) of Balliguda, Tikaballi and Chakapad area in the month of Chaitra and Baisakh.

Fair and Festival :

• Mati Puja : Observed in the month of Baisakh(April-May) for worshiping earth goddess for good crops.

• Kandula Jatra : Observed in Balliguda in the Month of April.

• Balli Jatra : Observed in Tumudibandh.

• Makara Jatra : Observed in K. Nuagam  in January.

• Rhas Jatra : Observed at Kellapada (Phiringia) in  March

• Kali Puja : Observed at Nuapadar(Phiringia) in  November.

• Dashera Puja : Observed at Balaskumpa in  October.

• Rama Lila Jatra : Observed at Bisipada(Phulbani) in  April.

• Siva Ratri : Observed at Birupakhsya Temple at Chakappad in February.

• Ratha Yatra : Observed at Balliguda and Phulbani in July.

• Thakurani Jatra : Observed at Phulbani in April-May in alternate year with Berhempur.

• Laxmi Puja : Observed at Sankarakhole in September.

• Danda Nata : Observed throughout the district in the month of March and April.

• Baruni jatra : Observed in Rushimal Hills(origin of Rishikulya River) of Daringbadi in March.

• Kendu Jatra : Observed among Kandhas to please the earth goddess in March-April. Animal sacrifice has been done during the Jatra.

Art and Craft :

• Dokra Art : Made up off brass made by Ghasis(SC) people in Barakhama of Balliguda block and in Tudubali of Tikabali Block. However artisans of Barakhama have been making these of superior quality.

• Terracota Art : Its in Ratanga of Phiringia block. But yet to be developed.

• Cane & bamboo Craft :   Cane work found in Tumudibandh and bamboo work found throught the district. The artisans of these group are financed by DWACRA(DRDA) and PAHAD(NGO) of Sudrukumpa financed by NABARD.

• Stone Craft:  Found in Pusangia in Balliguda block. They prepare tribal ornaments made of stones.

• Weaving : Handloom weaving commonly practised in the district. Mostly Panos(SC) have taken up this as source of livelihood. They , generally, produce cheap and coarse clothes for sale to local people. Godabisha near G.Udaygiri is noted for production of diamond pattern bedsheets.

• Lacquer & Wooden Comb : This craft has been developed by a set of SC& ST families of G.Udygiri. The main raw materials used for this are lac and bamboo which are availbale in local forest. They are being financed by Block. However demand for this comb is diminishing among tribals.

• Applique Works : Some artisans of G.Udaygiri are doing this work.

Archaeological Sites :

        There are so many evidences of Buddhism in this district. One Budha Statue from Dungi near Tikabali has been shifted to Orissa State Museum. The site is rich with archeological remaining to be explored. Its is believed to be a site   of 8th/9th AD and was a Buddhist Site during the reign of  Bhoumkars. Latter it has been changed to a Siava Site during the patronage of  next rulers of Somavamsis. Now there are Siva temple found in the premises. The main Siva temple standing on the pedestal of ancient structures. Some ancient structures are fixed on the temple wall. There were found debris of monastic pillars, similar to the pillars found at Boudh. The amalakis are also found and  usually used for decorative purpose. Distinct mounds are found in the premises. One of the mound was excavated by a private person for construction of one temple from which a lot of archeological   remaining have come up, but those were damaged by the unskilled laborers. It proves that the Siva temple were build on the mound areas with old materials those were available on the spot. The site needs immediate attention for preservation and systematic excavation of the site. This may reveal past history of the district.

Opposite to the Dungi Siba temple two other images are found surrounded by thick bushes. One of the two images is a female Goddess and other is an attendant. Both the images are badly defaced.

An inscription found in on a rock at Amlapani in Katringia GP of Phulbani block on the way leading to Katramal(picnic spot). This spot signifies the movement of monk community, although there is a mark of  overlapping of Buddhism and Saivasim, is general and common feature of Orissa and in Buddhist settlements.

The route that passes through Kalinga and Phulbani was very ancient and was popular with the monk community and traders of ancient and mediaeval period. The route served mostly for the transportation from coastal Orissa to Central India. Huen Tsang also said to have passed this route. Hence the geographical location of Dungi as such afforded every possibility of a monk settlement. And hence a center for worship being a monastery and a resting place for the traders.

Near Chakapad, a mound known as "Chakalati" exists and the name Brahmanapada also in someway related to this site. But due to some circumstantial incongruity, the monk community left the place and the site passed into oblivion.

Weekly Hata's(Market) in the District Headquarter :-

(GO TOP)     (GO BACK)