Orissa

 

The term Adivasi of Orissa refers to the more than 60 tribes found in the Indian state of Orissa. They are officially known as "tribals" or "Adivasis" even though many of them don't like to be called by those names.

 

Their economy is based on food gathering, hunting and fishing and thus revolves around forests. Even the large tribes like the Santal, Munda, Oram and Gond, who are settled agriculturists, often supplement their economy with hunting and gathering. While farming they make use of a very simple technology and a simple division of labour,often limited to the immediate family. Their holdings are small and unproductive, lacking irrigation facility since the terrain is hilly and undulating.

Many tribes, like the Juanga, Bhuiyan, Saora, Dharua and Bonda, practice what is called shifting cultivation, also known as slash and burn. There are cattle-breeders among the tribes, notably the Koya. There are simple artisans too like the Mohali and Loharas, who practice crafts of basket weaving and tool making.

 

The Kondh have a population of about one million and are based in the south-west, around Koraput, and near Sambalpur.

The Bonda,are known as 'the Naked People', because the women only cover their body in long strings of beads. They have a population of about 5,000 and live in the hills near Koraput.

Orissan tribes are hospitable but reserved and maintain distance from the people of other communities, as they are rather shy. Men usually wear loin attire and women wrap a long stretch of cloth around them. Women are adorned with ornaments like bangles, armlets, bracelets, necklaces, rings, hairpins etc usually made of silvers, aluminum, and brass. The practice of tattooing and piercing is prevalent among women and girls of the Khond. Many of them have tattoo marks on their faces and hands.

 

Tribal culture is rich and distinctive and the Adivasis work hard to preserve it. A tribal village manages its internal affairs very smoothly through two institutions – the village council of elders and the youth dormitory.

The core of tribal culture, the youth dormitory, is the largest hut in the village. By night the dormitory is home to the youth of the village. People gather here to chat and dance. The council of elders meets here too to discuss matters relating to the welfare of the village.