Thoti Tribe

Thoti Tribe Latest News

Recently, it was observed that the Thoti tribe in Telangana is facing a rapid decline driven by a shrinking population. 

About Thoti Tribe

• It is a small tribal community concentrated in northern Telangana.
• They are classified as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG).
• They have historically served as village messengers, ballad singers, and folk artists, maintaining a rich heritage of storytelling and indigenous cultural practices. 
• Historically, they were oral storytellers, narrating episodes from the Mahabharata using traditional instruments such as the burra, maddela, and harmonium.
• Language: They speak Gonti as their mother tongue and have a more traditional appearance.
• Society

• • The social structure of this community is hierarchically organized, wherein the village head and elders of the community exercise authority over most social, political, and legal matters related to the community and its members.
  • Belief System: They are known to be strong believers in the idea of rebirth, this is also evidenced in their traditional songs.
  • They worship and believe in their community God called “Persapen” and other village deities, and celebrate a festival known as “Nagappa Jathara” (Chariot festival). 
  • During ceremonial occasions, Thotis play the kingri, a three-stringed fiddle, and blow trumpets.
• Many Thoti women are skilled tattoo artists, and they are responsible for the complex tattoos covering the arms, shoulders, and chests of many Gond women.
• The Thotis have been known to practice endogamy.

Source: TT

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