Koya Tribe Conflict Over Sacred Mahua Flowers

• 05 Jun 2024

Why in News?

In Godavari valley, the Koya tribe faces a cultural crisis as raids by the Special Enforcement Bureau threaten their cherished tradition of Mahua liquor consumption.

Key Points

• Mahua, a tropical tree scientifically known as Madhuca longifolia, plays a crucial role in the traditions of different tribal groups in India.
  • Among the Koya community, the tree is revered and plays a significant role in various ceremonies. The blossoms emerge in the beginning of summer and are mainly utilised for making alcohol.
  • Dried flowers are a key source of revenue for those who gather them. In the Godavari Valley, the Koyas produce cooking oil from Mahua nuts.
• It is a prominent forest tree in tribal areas of Bastar (Chhattisgarh) and plays an important role in the rural economy.
• The mahua flowers are a rich source of sugars and are said to contain vitamins, minerals and calcium.
• The flowers are fermented and distilled yielding spirituous liquor also known as ‘country beer’.
  • An estimated 90% of the annual production of Mahua flower is used in the process of brewing beverages.

Koya Tribe

• 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.
• The Koya are said to have migrated to central India from their original home in Bastar, northern India.
• Language:
  • The Koya language, also called Koyi, is a Dravidian language. It is closely related to Gondi and has been strongly influenced by Telugu.
  • Most Koyaspeak either Gondi or Telugu, in addition to Koyi.
• Occupation:
  • Traditionally, they were pastoralists and shifting cultivators, but now-a-days, they have taken to settled cultivation supplemented by animal husbandry and seasonal forest collections.
  • They grow Jowar, Ragi, Bajra, and other millets.
• 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 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.