The Koyas are a Scheduled
Tribes. Koyas are found in Kalimela, Podia, Malkangiri
and Korukonda area of Malkangiri District. Koyas are
the largest in population. In 1971 Koyas population
was 58,730. In 1991 census their population was 1,40,000.
By this time it has increased a lot. At Mathili and
Manyamkonda area ancient Koyas tribes are generally
found. Their village consists of 30 to 40 families.
They don't settle at any place pernmanently because
it's a belief that they may be some natural calimaty
or the local God will be displeased.
They rear Pigs, Goats, Cows and Hens. The main festival
of Koyas is "Bijapandu" festival celebrated
in the month of Chaitra. They live in low thatched houses
. They cultivate Tabaco leaf, Mandia, Maize, Bhatta
Paddy. Mahula and Salapa is their ideal drink. They
believe in puja and local medicine for their illness
and desease and moreover they use very little quantity
of milk. The head of the Koya village is called "Peda"
and it's heridiatery. Few villages consittutes a "Mutha"
or "Panchayat" and the head of the Mutha was
called "Muthadar". A "Katual" was
there to help Muthadar in the village. Koyas are found
of unity and patriatic. In 1880 there was revolt against
British rule by the great Koya leader Tama Dora, which
was famous as "Koya Revoulation" in the Indian
history. |
