Hyderabad: For the first time, tribal temples in the state will be surveyed and extended financial aid on the lines of other Hindu temples that have meagre financial resources.
Traditionally, tribals offer prayers to their deities in nature or in various forms in granite and metal. However, of late, temples are being constructed in tribal belts.
Andh tribals pray to Siral, Gonds to Nagoba, Janga Bai etc, Kolam to Bheem Devera, Naik Pod to Laxmi Devara, Koya to Samakka Sarakka, Kondareddy to Musalamma, Lambada to Sevalal Maharaj (Guru) etc, Yerukala to Amma Talli, Chenchu to Mallikar-juna Swamy/Brahmarambha among scores of other deities in the state.
However, not all deities have temples, according to Dr D. Satyanarayana, curator, Nehru Centenary Tribal Museum and Tribal Cultural Research and Training Institute.
The total tribal population is about 36.02 lakh, 9.91 per cent of the 3.63 crore population in the state spread over Adilabad, Warangal, Hyderabad, Karimnagar, Khammam, Mahbubnagar, Nalgonda and other places.
Endowments minister A. Indrakaran Reddy said that he has instructed department officials to identify temples in the tribal hamlets and thandas across the state and provide Rs 6,000 per month on the lines of “Doopa, Deepa, Naivedyam scheme” provided to financially poor non-tribal temples by the endowments department.
“I have requested Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao and ST department officials to release funds for tribal temples from the ST Sub-Plan funds. The matter is under consideration. We will provide funds for tribal temples,” Mr Reddy said.
Dr Satyanarayana said tribals pray to Gods under a tree, placing some stones and in other forms. “Only of late, some people have begun constructing temples. Since they live amidst nature, they pray to nature. Some have now installing chiselled idols. It’s a recent phenomenon. They pray to hundreds of gods,” he said.
Dr Satyanarayana added, “Famed Mallikarjuna and Brahmarambha of Srisailam are Chenchu gods. They are Shiva and Parvathi for us.”
Adilabad, the hub of tribal population, sees religious season after Dasara with tribal Gonds, Kolams celebrating Ghusadi festival followed by others. They visit their deities and offer prayers.
