KONDA REDDIS – TRIBE HISTORY

Konda Reddis are one of the most under privileged tribal groups in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. They inhabit on both banks of the Godavari River (East and West Godavari districts), in the hilly-forest region of Khammam (Telangana) and Srikakulam (Andhra Pradesh). Konda Reddis have been recognized as Primitive Tribal Group (now Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups). They live in the interior forest areas largely cut-off from the mainstream. Their mother tongue is Telugu with a unique accent.

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

Traditionally, they were shifting cultivators and recently some of them have adopted settled agriculture and horticulture. The Konda (or Hill) Reddis of Andhra Pradesh are one of the tribal groups which depend to a great extent on slash-and-burn cultivation. They inhabit the wooded hills flanking the Godavari river where it breaks through the barriers of the Eastern Ghats. The majority of the Reddi communities are non-vegetarian and all the communities take rice as their staple cereal. Jowar, Wheat, Bajra and Ragi are also prominent among them. The Konda Reddis of the Godavari region broadcasts all small millets without much scratching of the ground surface and dibbles the great millet (Sorghum vulgare), maize, and pulses into holes made with digging stick. They hunt with bow and arrow and those living on the banks of the Godavari are also involved in fishing, often from dug-out canoes.

SOCIAL LIFE 

The Reddi community has social divisions such as clans, lineage, sub-castes and sects. These social divisions regulate marital alliances. The sense of unity based on a group's common ownership of a tract of land finds expression in joint ritual activities. Though not all the members of a group need live in one locality, they combine for celebration of seasonal festivals and for the performance of sacrificial rites connected with the agricultural cycle. The improvement of communications in recent years has made the Reddis' habitat accessible to outsiders.
Konda Reddis have their own institution of social control called 'Kula Panchayat'. Each village has a community headman called 'Pedda Kapu'.  Acting as mediator between man and the local deities to secure the prosperity of the community, he inaugurates the sowing of the grain crops and propitiates the earth mother with sacrifices of pigs and fowls.

ECONOMY

Collection of non timber forest products and basket-making material from forest areas are main the sources of their livelihood. The Konda Reddis are known for their eco-friendly practices such as use of household articles made of bamboo, bottle gourd, and seed. They collect and sell Non- Timber Forest Produce (NTFP) like Honey, Tamarind, Adda leaves, Myrobolan, Amla, broom sticks, etc. to supplement their income.

 

COMMUNITY & WORSHIP

At present, the population is only in hundreds and livelihood is depended on the forest products like honey, gathering medicinal plants, leaves, roots, etc. Among the Reddy people, cross-cousin marriages of both types are allowed. Widow remarriage is not permitted. They prepare the calendar and marked the seasons for collecting various edible fruits, nuts, green leaves and small animals for hunting. When the season arrives, the Konda Reddi tribe women and children collect the edible forest products for subsistence. Especially, they collect honey and bamboo shoots. In the summer season, they collect the juice of ‘Caryota Palm (Jeeluga kallu)’ for drinking.
They worship Muthayalamma (Village deity), Bhoo Devi (Earth Goddess), Gangamma Devi (River Godess). ‘Mamidi Panduga’ is one of the most important festivals. The other important festivals are ‘Gongura Panduga’ and ‘Bhoodevi Panduga’. During these festival celebrations, all gather together and share their happy movements with each other. The men and women jointly perform dance on festive and marriage occasions.123