Bhadrachalam ITDA Documents Family Deities (Ilavelpulu) of Adivasi Koyas

 Nalgonda: After establishing a tribal museum showcasing the culture, traditions, and lifestyles of tribal communities, the Bhadrachalam Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) has launched another initiative to document the history of family deities, locally known as Ilavelpulu, worshipped by Adivasi Koya communities.

Among the Adivasi Koyas, Ilavelpulu refers to ancestral or family deities chosen by families based on faith and belief. Irrespective of customs, families traditionally worship deities believed to have protected or guided them during difficult times, performing rituals and festivals in their honour. To document this largely oral tradition, the ITDA constituted a special study team comprising three elders from the Adivasi community, three Thalapathulu (traditional priests), and three ITDA officials. The initiative was led by ITDA project officer B. Rahul.

Tribal Museum in-charge and study team member Veera Swamy said documenting Ilavelpulu was a complex task, as beliefs vary across families and surnames. He added that not all Koya families with the same surname worship the same Ilavelpulu, as faith is shaped by individual family beliefs.

The team conducted extensive field visits across Adivasi habitations in Bhadradri-Kothagudem district, documenting 142 gaddes (sacred platforms) where Ilavelpulu deities are installed for worship and festivals. The study covered ancestral deities worshipped by members of seven gattu gothrams and around 750 surnames.

Rahul said the documentation of Ilavelpulu would serve as an important cultural record of the Adivasi Koya community. He noted that while Ilavelpulu are regarded as gods, they are also seen as protectors and guides. Since this history has been preserved only through oral traditions over generations, the ITDA decided to document it in written form.

Based on the study, the ITDA plans to bring out a comprehensive 500-page book titled “Adivasi Koya–Ilavelpulu”. The documentation has been compiled using 22 parameters and will detail the origins of ancestral deities, methods of worship, festivals, timings of rituals, and their cultural significance. Officials said the effort would help preserve traditions that are gradually disappearing due to modern influences.