Koya Tribe Latest News
The Supreme Court recently issued notice on a plea by Koya tribe members challenging Telangana HC’s order on the ST status of Lambadi, Sugali & Banjara communities, citing the impact on reservation benefits.
About Koya Tribe
- The 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.
- According to the 2011 census, the total population of these tribes in India is 7,38,629.
- The Koyas call themselves as "Koithur"
- They are said to have migrated to central India from their original home in Bastar, northern India.
Koya Tribe Language
- Koyas speaks the Koya language, also known as koya basha, and is a member of the Dravidian language family. It is closely related to Gondi and has been strongly influenced by Telugu.
- Most Koyas speak either Gondi or Telugu, in addition to Koyi.
Koya Tribe Occupation
- Traditionally, they were pastoralists and shifting cultivators, but nowadays, they have taken to settled cultivation supplemented by animal husbandry and seasonal forest collections.
- They grow Jowar, Ragi, Bajra, and other millets.
Koya Tribe Society and Culture
- All Koya belong to one of five sub-divisions called gotrams. Every Koya is born into a clan, and he cannot leave it.
- The Koyas have a patrilineal and patrilocal family. The family is called “Kutum”. The nuclear family is the predominant type.
- Monogamy is prevalent among the Koyas.
- The Koya usually live in villages located near dependable water sources.
- Villages vary in size from three to more than sixty houses.
- The chief of every Koya village is called “Peda’.
- The Koya 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.
- Koyas either bury or cremate the dead. They erect menhirs in memory of the dead.
- Their main festivals are Vijji Pandum (seeds charming festival) and KondalaKolupu (festival to appease Hill deities).
- Koyas perform a robust, colourful dance called Permakok (Bison horn dance) during festivals and marriage ceremonies.
Source: LB
Koya Tribe FAQs
Q1: The Koya tribe primarily inhabits the regions along which river?
Ans: Godavari River
Q2: What do the Koya people call themselves?
Ans: Koithur
Q3: According to the 2011 Census, what is the population of the Koya tribe in India?
Ans: 7,38,629
Q4: What type of dance is performed by the Koya tribe during festivals and marriage ceremonies?
Ans: Koyas perform a robust, colourful dance called Permakok.
