Description

Copyright infringement not intended

PC: IDB

Context:

The Dongria Kondh tribe of Odisha was recently highlighted for demonstrating their strong identity and cultural endurance at a festival near the Niyamgiri Hills.

Who are Dongria Kondh?

The indigenous Dongria Kondh people are from the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) Community.
There is a long-established Dongria Kondh population in the Niyamgiri highlands, These districts are Kalahandi and Rayagada, both located in Odisha.
The Kondh have a polytheistic animist worldview in which the hills and trees around them are considered ultimate deities.
Non-timber forest products (NTFPs) collection and podu cultivation are important to the income and way of life of the Dongria Kondh. They have usually been gardeners.

Language and Script

Spoken Language	Kui (an oral Dravidian language closely related to Gondi)
Script	Kui has no native script
Transcription	Sometimes written using the Odia script

Physical and Cultural Traits

Women's Appearance	Minimal clothing, metallic nose pins, body tattoos, long rows of earrings
Men's Appearance	Colourful turbans, loincloths, and traditional body tattoos
Traditional Farming Practice	Podu (shifting) cultivation
Crops Grown	Millets, turmeric, pineapples, and other crops

Social and Religious Life

Beliefs	Animism, ancestor worship, nature-based spiritual beliefs
Tribal Sub-Groups	Kovi, Kuttia, Languli, Penga, Jharnia
Cultural Expressions	Oral storytelling, song, dance, and community rituals