Kunbi Tribe

An Assignment In

Social and Individual

SYBBA

Submitted by: Group 3

Tejas Naik Cliff Gonsalves Sanil Petkar Oswinda Gomes Niharika Raut Desai Gregory Fernandez Priti Pai Kakode R-11-22 R-11-19 R-11-27 R-11-17 R-11-29 R-11-12 R-11-24

Department of Bachelor of Business Administration Rosary College of Commerce and Arts 2011-2014

Introduction
Kunbis, the earliest settlers of Goa, are a sturdy tribal community mostly settled in Salcete Taluka, who though converted to Christianity, still retains the most ancient folk tradition of the land. The Kunbis are believed to be the oldest and the original tribe of Goa. The term Kunbi is derived from kun and bi meaning people and seeds, respectively. Fused together, the two terms mean "those who germinate more seeds from one seed". They are perceived as mild mannered and industrious people. They were initially Hindus but after the Portuguese forced them to convert, they fully turned into Christians. The Kunbis are very social people and perform various festivals. But they still maintain the culture or dance of non-Christian. It is the dance form which is performed in any of the special occasion. The Kunbi dance is quite famous in Goa. Their songs and dance belonging to the pre-Portuguese era are uniquely social and not religious. The fast and elegant dance by a group of Kunbi women dancers, wearing traditional yet very simple dresses, lends a colourful touch to this ethnic art form. The mainly participants in this dance form is the Women. The movements and the body posture formed by women are very graceful and even attractive. They live together, clustered into several hamlets, known as 'kutumba', from the Sanskrit word 'kutumbakam' which means a family. Kunbis have a rich tradition of art and culture to which they attach particular importance. There is a very common misconception that Kunbi is a part of Hindu religion. Just like Patel, Reddy, Jats etc. members of this community practice religions such as Hinduism, Jainism, Islam, Buddhism Sikhism, Christianity etc. Kunibs are Marathas, but Marathas are not Kunbis. As per history one must remember that Shivaji created a Maratha state rather than a dynastic one. Although Marathas compromises major portion of Maratha armies, other castes were also brought in prominence like Kunbis, kolis etc Kunibs are the great agricultural tribe of West India, corresponding to the kumars in the north and the Kapus in the Telugu Country. Kunbi are basically Patidar and have taken to all types of professions and many of them have achieved high regards in diverse fields, including agriculture, engineering, industrialization, sports, defense, domestic and international politics, medical professions, religious studies, astrology, theater and arts etc. Farming is another timeless, traditional occupation of the Goan people. The work which involves days of hard labor in the fields is mostly preformed by the Kunbis. In the Old Conquests many of the Kunbis converted to the Catholic religion though they still adhere to most of their ancient customs and beliefs. The Kunbis are sub divided into 2 groups: the Gaunkars, who are believed to have descended from the original discoverers of stone Shiva-lingam. The Kunbis in the southern region of Goa speak Kannada (as in Agonda), but the vast majority speak Konkani in the Devnagiri script. They are known for their characteristic culture simplicity and strict adherence to age old customs and usage. Men wear a simple loin-cloth and women wear colourful red and white saris tied in a knot below the left shoulder as in the Gaude Style. Married women wear a necklace of 40-50 strings of glass beads and girls marry between the ages of 18 to 20 and boys between the ages of 25 to 30. They usually lived in small huts of mud walls and roofing made of thatched coconut palm leaves. Usually several families will inhabit the same dwelling and several families will live together in a hamlet. The Budavant/ Budavatin is the eldest member of the community and commands much respect in the village as the one who safeguards traditional and addresses conflicts within the community.

For the Kunbi community Shigmo the Goan version of Holi is the most important festival during which time the community performs dances, songs and dresses in colourful costumes. Today these dances are staged and used as entertainment and one such dance Kunbi dance became incorporated into the cultural identity of Goa in the post liberation years. Most members of the Kunbi community are illiterate due to poverty, isolation and the economic necessity of children working in the fields. Among the Catholic community in Agonda 40% of the village, nearly one member of every family works in the Gulf or aboard international shipping lines and the new housing constructions attest to this wealth from remittances. Though televisions, radios and other modern conveniences are available to the local population in Agonda, they are as yet neatly tucked away in traditional homes. Likewise some villages have motorcycles and cars but these are again relatively few. However, unlike other modern villages the effect of Gulf employment and of the tourist industry are relatively minor and the forces of modernity which are revolutionizing the urban centers have yet to infiltrate into Agonda.

Customs and practices

Marriage system The form of marriage prevalent and universally so in Goa state is monogamy, a condition in which one man is married to one woman. Among the Christians, if the proposal was found to the liking of the grooms elders soirik korunk (arrange of alliance) or rather entering the preliminary talks concerning prospects of a marriage. If the girl finds acceptance in the eyes of visitors, a sweet meat or some article of value like a wrist watch or a dress piece or gold ornaments brought by the delegation, is gifted to the bride to be, signifying the acceptance of the proposal. For the Christians the church has prescribed a brief course or instruction to be taken by the prospective groom and bribe at the church or at the pastoral institute Pius-x at old Goa. Among the sudras there was the practice of the groom to be to take away the kerchief and the soap kept for him, being a sign of acceptance of the proposal. Later a ring was sent for the engagement. Among the Hindus according to the custom, marriage within the same gotra is not permitted. If the gotra happens to be the same for both and it is still every ones wish that the concerned marriage should take place, then the marriage ceremony is gone through by a special ritual called Dattak Vidhan or adoption of the bride and her gotra changed. The engagement ceremony is called mudi the ring; it is the same for Hindus and Christians. The engagement ceremony among the Muslims is called mangani. Bangle wearing ceremony The bangle wearing ceremony that is held once in her life time for the bride to be is called the chuddo. The bangles symbolize married life for the bride, as they are broken only on her dead husbands coffin. The chuddo among the upper castes consists of a set of seven glass bangles of a green colour on each wrist. Among the lower castes, the bangles are of the seven colors of rainbow. This ceremony is performed on the eve of marriage or a day or two day before. It is done at the house of the maternal uncle of the bribe. In the normal case these bangles are put on her by the bangle seller. Other relatives and those present at the ceremony are also given by him a pair or more of their choice free of cost. There are songs sung during this time which are typical and appropriate to the occasion. Offering of money is a token of

blessing are put in a tray placed before the bangle seller. The money collected thus is taken by him over and above the payment that he gets for the work done. There are women who are expert in singing in parables and pointed image in the form of Zotis as well as throwing aside all taunts to them and other home people i.e. relatives. After this ceremony at the maternal uncles house that said uncle sends his niece home with a vojem ( a parcel of sweet meats in a big special type of bamboo woven basket) containing sweet meats, banana, bread twelve each in number. This system is known as Perkund. Similar Perkund calls without the festive bangle are made when other relatives invite her at their place for lunch or dinner of farewell. She receives a special bunch of flowers from her uncle and others on this occasion. Even if the parents of the bride do not happens to be on speaking terms with the said uncle or relatives, she has to go and get at least water from their well. If they have no well or it is not possible to get water from there, then some water has to be taken from their house by the bride. Relatives visit the two houses of the bride and of the groom with flowers etc. Special fole cakes made of rice flour stuffed with shredded coconut mixed with jaggery, cupped into a wrapping of jack fruit tree leaves and pinned by a thin stick-pin are served at the maternal uncles house. Or it may be mankeo some things like dosas stuffed with coconut shredding and jaggery. The chuddo ceremony is same from both Hindus and Muslims. Saddo ceremony The saddo a variant of the saree in a special dress, usually flowery or plain red or pink won by the bride in the house at the day of the wedding after the official function is over. It is given by the maternal uncle to the bride among Hindus and Christians. Among Muslims no such practice is noticed. In the northern part of Goa, there is a beautiful ceremony called the saddo. Saddo is the ceremonial cutting of the cloth, normally flowery red to be worn by the bride. A tiny image of child Jesus is placed on the floor mat where the tailor is sitting with the clothes, at their house and two tiny lengths wise pieces of the clothes are cut by him and placed there in the form of a cross. To begin with there is the nomon in which belessing of God almighty and especially of the virgin Mary, mother of Jesus are invoke in the form of Zot (a special song peculiar to the occasion sung by an expert song stress.) Then each relative from the nearest to begin with followed by others to accompaniment of reference to them made in beautiful metaphor in the form of Zotis, walks up to the spot where lies in Infant Jesus and lays his or her offerings of money from Rs.2 to Rs.10 before the image. Then a piece of betel nut and leaf with lime and some sweets are disturbed to the people present. The elder men are served with liquor, women and children with sweet red wine and soft drinks. The money collected on the occasion is taken by the tailor, apart from his wages. The tailor will later stitch the main wedding dress or gown in milky white colour and other necessary clothes for the bride and near relatives, brides maid etc. The brides gown, ornaments and trousseau are displayed in a special ceremony at which people are invited, and then they are sent to the grooms place for display there. Hair cutting ritual On the day prior to the marriage, the groom is set on a ceremonial stool or chair at home and the barber formerly the family barber, cuts his hair in an appropriate cut. Songs are sung on the occasion and friends and relatives gather to witness it. The barber is paid a handsome remuneration in cash as well as given

present in the form of coconut and a measure of rice and sweet meats. This ceremony is held prior to the bath with coconut pulp, juice or milk. The bat with coconut pulp, among Christians on the evening proceeding the wedding day the bride at her place and the groom at his, takes a ceremonial bath with coconut pulp juice or milk. It starts with applying ceremonially to the accompaniment of special verses called Zotis, peculiar to the occasion, sung by trained women. On the head or a part of the body of the bride and groom, clad in bathing dress, at his/her own place, a tumbler full or cup full of juice extracted from coconut shredded pulp kept in a pot is applied by relatives in a proper order of priority, followed by friends. This is done first outside the bathing room in the hall. The second part of the bathing ceremony consists of a bath with water possibly warm in the bathing room again in a ceremonial manner, with songs being sung in a group. After bathing with a tumbler of water, a few coins are dropped into the pots of water, kept for the purpose. All the money dropped into the pot is taken by the maids who helped or were called for preparing the bath water and coconut pulp juice. Hindus too have a similar bath but not so elaborated. They have an additional application of turmeric (halad) and oil on the body of the bride. Among Muslims this practice does not exist. Beggars lunch Among Christians a lavish feast called the beggars lunch or Bhick Reamfevor is held a day or two before the wedding day, preferably on a Tuesday. Seven or nine poor people both men and women are invited to a lavish lunch with pork, beef, fish, rice and curry of a special type called samrach koddi they squat on the floor mat and specially prepared jack fruit tree leaves, well plaited into plates, are placed before them into which food is served or ladled out by the bride and groom at each ones place of residence. The intention behind the service is to feed and satisfy the ancestors on this important occasion in their houses through the medium of theses beggars. Coconuts oil is given for their hair and a bidi or cigarette, according to the preference expresses by them. They are also given a sweet dish of gram dal and soji a sweet composed of wheat preparation and bananas. Instead of coconut-feni , a sweet wine could also be served to them. Family organization The concept of marriage as a sacrament and that too monogamous in nature is very much the norm among both the Hindus and Christians in Goa. It is a social contract among the Muslims. The break up and separate residence for the new couple may begin after the marriage of the subsequent sons. The other sons staying outside in a nuclear family of their own are called virilocal. When one of the sons continues to stay with his new family in his fathers house after his marriage, the households is called patrilocal. Parents in their old age may take up residence with one of their married sons. Ghor zanvoim is the case in which the son in law of the house who resides being adopted into the house of his in laws in the event of his marrying the daughter of the house, if she is the only child or the one chosen for such an alliance. For any important decision to be taken in the interest of the family in the matter of education of a higher nature or a marriage alliance, all the members advice and come or rather cooperate to bring into fruition. Respect for the elders is very strong in all the communities. The eldest male of the family generally the father is the head of the family and in his absence the mother officiates in that position.

Religious sacraments The sacraments being to be observed right from the day of conception signaled by Garbhadana or conception of the fetus in the womb of the woman. Usually the birth of the first child has to take place in the womans mothers home called kular in Konkani. Among the Hindus before the women is sent to her mothers home, a ceremony known as fulam malop (adorn the coiffure with flowers) is held in the 5th, 7th and the 9th month of pregnancy. The first two flowers bedecking are held at the husband house. In the 5 th month her lap is filled with green clothes. On the sixth day from the birth of the child there is a ceremony called Sotti or Shastipuja. On that night there is the honoring of the female deity called Sottvia and the whole night resounds to be the beat of the ghumott which is a special local percussion instrument made from a mud pot. 10 days period of privacy is observed when the woman delivered, is prevented from touching things that matter. On the 11th day the delivered woman is bathed and offered panchagavya consisting of cows urine, tulsi leaves, cow dung etc. Homa is held and water from tulsi plant is brought into the house and sprinkled on household things for the purpose of purification and the delivered woman given an offering of coconut, sewer preparation in liquid paste form called godshem, puris, rice , moong etc. The umbilical cord is buried in some places in the backyard. On the 21th day the child Barso i.e. the naming ceremony is performed. Married women with husbands meet and fill up the lap of the delivered woman with flowers and gifts. The child is placed in the cradle and bestowed a name. Normally three names including a surname are given. The first being the proper name of the boy or girl, the second being the fathers name and the third being the surname. Following birth, a 21day, pollution period is observed wherein the women can neither perform household tasks nor participate in religious functions. After the first year of birth the new born head is shaven (jaiwal). When the child cuts its first tooth, there is a function to celebrate the occasion with food etc. This is known as datolem ghalop (cutting of tooth). Little puris, biscuits and distributed to the children gathered all round. This practice is on the decline these days. Whenever it is prevalent the Vodde (puri type) have been replaced by chocolate, toffee, peppermint etc. The last Samskara among the Hindus is the funeral rite or Antyesti at the death of a person. After the death of a person, a period of 12 days mourning observance is adhered to. On the 10 th day death, a homa is prepared at home and panchagavya done for purification. Women work as housewives and in the fields and their presence at social and religious function is essential. Following the death of a relative the body is buried in the east west direction and an 11day restriction period is observed for the family members of the deceased. On the 11th day the Shraddha ceremony occurs followed by a feast on the 12th day for relatives and friends of the recently expired. A special feature of the Muslim sacraments is that they can be performed without the presence of the priest or Mullah, when they are not available for some reason or another.