Matya

Abstract

Odisha is the cradle of 62 culturally vibrant and colourful tribal communities many of whom are little known to the world outside. Among them Matya is one. The SCSTRTI has taken a step in producing photo handbooks on different Scheduled Tribes of Odisha including the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). The presenthand book on the tribe called Matya is the photographic representation of socio-culturallife of the tribe along with various changes and development taking place among them. The Matya also known as Mati-Bhumiya mainly inhabits in the Dhenkanal, Ganjam and Malkangiri districts of Odisha. According to 2011 census the total population of Matyas in Odisha is 30,169. They have close cultural affinities with the Mirdha, Kisan and Oraon tribes. Their name Matya comes from the fact that they are expert earth (mati) diggers and more often employed by the neighbouring communities for this kind of work.They generally live in separate wards in multiethnic village with other ScheduledCastes and Scheduled Tribes maintaining their distinct cultural identity.Dulari Devi is their principal village deity. They also observe different festivals on different occasions. They are settled agriculturists. They cultivate paddy, pulses, and different type ofvegetables in their agricultural field. But those who are landless, migrates to the city insearch of work as daily wage labourer. Now-a-days, they are in process of change as various development programmes are taken up by both government and non-government organizations for their upliftment.