Varsha Pandey
Kandra tribe is a sub-caste of Gond in the list of Scheduled Tribes of Chhattisgarh issued by the Government of India.
Their population is in the census including the sub-castes of the Gond tribe.
Location
In Chhattisgarh, the Kandra tribe mainly resides in Raipur, Durg, Balod, Bemetara, Rajnandgaon, and Dhamtari districts.
Origin of the Kandra tribe
Historical evidence is not available regarding the origin of the Kandra tribe.
Etymology
The etymology of the word Kandra is to be from “Kand” meaning vehicle.
Probably their forefathers were Kandra because of making “Kand” (arrow) from bamboo, which later into Kandra.
According to the elders of this society, his forefather was Soupal Bhagat.
It is said that Supal Bhagat was a religious person of the tribe community, who was an expert in the art of making Supa, Tukna from bamboo.
Their descendants came from Bastar to the plains of Raipur, Durg for the supply of bamboo utensils and started living with other castes.
Lifestyle
Living of Kandra tribe resides in the village to make bamboo utensils for other castes in the plains.
That’s why only 2-3 of their families are in the village.
In Kasya and urban areas, 8-10 families reside in one place.
Their house is of mud, on which there is a thatch of grass or country tile.
A neem tree is often in front of the house, under which, sitting with their families in the shade, they make bamboo soup, tukna, jhampi, and tatta.
Clay and aluminum, brass utensils, plates, lota, bowls, and glass are in their house for cooking food.
The tools for making bamboo utensils include skewers, daggers, sickles, tongs, axe, etc.
The people of this tribe wake up early in the morning and brush their teeth with Baul, Neem, or Karanj Datun.
After bathing in a river, stream, or pond, oil of guli or groundnut is to the body and head.
Women make buns from the hair of the head.
Get a tattoo on the body. Clothing – Men wear Pancha, Bandi, dhoti, kurta, women wear lugda, polka. Women wear Santi on the feet, bangles in the hands, anthi, reached in the arms, Suta or Rupiya Mala around the neck, Phuli in the nose, Khinwa in the ear, etc.
Business of the Kandra tribe
Their economic life depends on making bamboo utensils.
In the past, men and women cut bamboo from the forest and bring it.
After the nationalization of the forest, they buy bamboo from the wood depot of the forest department.
Jhampi, Dukna, Dalia, Soupa, Changora, Jhakha, etc. are from it and sold to local farmers.
Those with some agricultural land cultivate paddy, moong, urad, and arhar.
They also work as laborers in the fields of other farmers.
The tradition of the Kandra tribe
Jharia and Kanojia sub-groups are in this tribe.
The main tribes of this tribe are Netam, Markam, Chhedaiya, Sonwani, Kunjam, Udka, Paroti, Sori, March, Kardel, Mundar, Chauhat, Kumeti, Amdha, Poti, etc.
Boys and girls of the same clan are Gotiyari brothers and sisters.
That’s why there is no marriage among themselves.
In marriage, the maternal uncle’s and aunt’s boys and girls are the priority.
The practice of “souq” has waned at present. Lugda, Polka, makeup materials, and jewelery are to the bride by the groom’s side.
The rituals of marriage were by the Siyans (elders) of the caste.
Now even Brahmin priests have a calling.
The practice of remarriage is by wearing bangles.
Women of the Kandra tribe
do their economic and family work till the day of delivery. Childbirth is at home by elderly women and the “suin dai” of the village.
The umbilical cord of the child is cut with a bamboo splinter.
Currently using new blades.
Dry ginger, jaggery, coconut, sesame, and herbs are to the child for 5 days.
Chhathi is on the sixth day.
Mother and child are bathed and new clothes are worn.
They feed the elders and relatives.
Beedis are given, alcohol, etc.
After death, the body of the deceased is buried chiefly.
Those whose economic condition is good, perform fire rituals.
Let’s immerse the bone in Mahanadi.
Teejanhavan is on the third day and Terahi is on the tenth day.
The male relatives of the deceased get shaved.
Death feast is for relatives.
Traditional social panchayat
Kandra society has its traditional social panchayat. it’s chief
Social panchayat is there. Its chief is the king.
Diwan and Panch are assistants.
Marital disputes are in this panchayat.
Gods and Goddesses of the Kandra tribe Among their main gods and goddesses are Budhadev, Dulhadev, Thakurdev, Kankalin Mata, Kharia Godiya, etc.
Ram, Krishna, Shiva, Hanuman, Ganesha, Durga, Lakshmi, etc. are also Hindu deities.
Their main festivals are Hareli, Pola, Dussehra, Diwali, Holi, etc.
They believe in ghosts, witchcraft, etc.
Occupation
Their main occupation is making bamboo utensils.
Many families artistically make Jhampi, Bijna, Churki, Tukni, Chagora, Supa, Tukna, Yans ka Ghunghuna etc.
They do not have separate folk dances or folk songs.
Locals sing Karma, Dadriya, Gaura Geet, Sua Geet, Bhojali Geet, Mata Seva, Phag, Marriage Geet, etc like other castes. Chhattisgarhi dialect is here.
