Kolha

Abstract

This illustrative handbook is a photographic representation of the socio-cultural life of an Odishan tribe known as KOL / KOLHA concluding with various planned changes taking place in their present way of life. The 'Kol / Kolha' is a Kolarian tribe belonging to the same stock of Munda and synonymous to the tribe called Ho. The Kol, Kolha and Ho, though one and the same tribe, they have been listed separately in the Scheduled Tribe list of Odisha. They are mainly concentrated in the Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar and Baleswar districts. Numerically they constitute one of the major tribes of the state. They generally live in multiethnic villages in separate hamlets. A typical Kol settlement is conspicuous by the sight of large tombstones commemorating their ancestors at different places of the village. The other landmarks are Akhara, the dancing arena at the centre of the village and Sarana the sacred grove of the village deities called 'Desauli' located at the village outskirts. Like other tribes of Odisha they believe in existence of many gods and goddesses, ghosts, spirits, ancestors, witches etc. 'Bonga' is the generic term for all gods and goddesses. Sing Bonga or Sun god is their supreme deity. They are settled agriculturists. Besides, they also depend on food gathering by seasonal forest collections, animal domestication, hunting and fishing to supplement their livelihood. In recent times due to multifarious development interventions, both by the Government and Non-government agencies, the Kols are undergoing a phase of transition. But they are struggling hard to retain their time tested values, customs and traditions.