Gutti Koya Tribals

About Gotti Koya Tribe: 

• They are one of the few multi-racial and multi-lingual tribal communities in India.
• The Koya population is concentrated in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Odisha.
• Language: They speak Koya, which is a Dravidian language. It is closely related to Gondi and has been strongly influenced by Telugu.
• Occupation:
  • They practice Podu form of shifting cultivation, as practiced by various tribal groups in forest areas has for long been an economic survival versus environmental sustenance issue.
  • They earn a living through animal husbandry and minor forest produce.
• Festival: The most important fair celebrated by Koyas is the Sammakka Saralamma Jatra once in two years on full moon day of the Magha Masam (January or February) at Medaram village in Mulug taluk of Warangal district.
• They held ST status in Chattisgarh but they were not granted ST status in their migrated states such as Telangana.
• 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 Koya

Q1: What is Sammakka-Saralamma Jatara?

It is also known as Medaram Jatara. It is a tribal festival of honouring the goddesses celebrated in the state of Telangana, India.

News:Maoist violence: ST panel urges Centre, States to submit detailed report on status of Gotti Koya tribals