Bonda
Bondo, Remo
 |
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| Total population |
| 5,129 (1991)[1] |
| Regions with significant populations |
 India |
| Languages |
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Bonda
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The Bonda are an ancient tribe of people numbering approximately 5000 who live in the isolated hill regions of the Malkangiri district of southwesternmost Orissa, India, near the junction of the three states of Orissa, Chhattisgarh, and Andhra Pradesh. The Bonda are a scheduled tribe of India and are also known as Remo (meaning "people" in the Bonda language), Bhonda, Bondo, or Bondo Poraja. Their language belongs to the Munda subgroup of the Austro-Asiatic language family.[2]
The Bonda are generally semi-clothed, with the women characterised by the wearing of thick silver necklace bands. The tribe is one of the oldest and most primitive in mainland India with their culture little changed in over a thousand years. Their isolation and known aggression[citation needed] continue to preserve their culture despite the pressures of an expanding Indian population. In contrast with many other populations in India, the number of females among the Bondas greatly exceeds the number of males.[1]
The best way to see members of the tribe is to go to one of the local town markets. It is not safe to go into their tribal areas. The Bondas still use 'binnimoy protha', i.e., barter, and they customarily go to a market every Sunday.
They like to put castor oil on their heads. The women make “worli paintings” in their homes.
A Bonda tribeswoman drinking rice wine.
[edit] References
- Pancorbo, Luis (2008):"Bonda" en "Avatares. Viajes por la India de los dioses". pp. 147–167. Miraguano Ediciones, Madrid.
[edit] External links
India
