The rhythmic beat of the vette , parra or ghumela , the traditional percussion instruments, or the lilting tunes flowing out of the pepre trumpets, do not betray the anxiety of the dancers taking part in the annual Dandari festival of the Raj Gond and Kolam Adivasis of the erstwhile Adilabad.
The underlying fear of a dark future facing them could be felt during the short recesses in the Dandari and Ghusadi dances when the recent incidents of sparring between Adivasis and Lambada plains tribe in Kumram Bheem Asifabad district was discussed in villages.
The Dandari forms a major part of Deepavali celebration in the Agency areas and also heralds activities associated with marriage alliances among ethnic people in these parts.
This year, however, the festival has been overshadowed by the recent incidents such as burning of a statue of a Lambada woman at the tribal museum in Jodeghat and the subsequent protests and cases against a large number of aboriginal people. “We are doomed,” observed Sidam Bheem Rao, former Chairman of the Aboriginal Tribes Welfare Advisory Committee of the Utnoor Integrated Tribal Development Agency, and a respected leader of ethnic people in these parts, as he recalled the events of the past few days.
“The government clearly seems to be favouring the illegal migrant Lambadas who have created all trouble by grabbing our land and jobs,” he accused. Though the protests were restricted to K.B. Asifabad district, its vibrations reached Adivasis in Adilabad and Mancherial districts too. The aboriginal people were waiting for the Dandari festival to end before discussing the issue in a larger context and decide upon the future course of action.
In the meanwhile, the Utnoor ITDA headed by In-charge Project Officer R.V. Karnan, who is Collector of Mancherial district, has managed to forge truce between the rival tribes.
The issue was discussed as a peace meeting with elders of all tribes in the districts and certain decisions were taken.
“The demand of Adivasis not to replace the burnt Lambada woman statue in the tribal museum will be referred to the government for its advice. Both the groups will refrain from mutual instigation in order to maintain peace at all costs,” Mr. Karnan disclosed of the key decisions taken at the peace committee meeting held at Utnoor ITDA on October 15.
