Andhra Pradesh has always included among its inhabitants foresters, hill-men and other tribals. The tribes of Andhra Pradesh have added grandeur to the region with their rich heritage of culture,innocent lifestyle and ageold ethnicity. In other words, customs, rituals, fairs, festivals of these tribes of Andhra Pradesh have drawn the attraction of all the anthropologists of the country who have conducted surveys on them with enthusiasm and vigor. Today there are nearly 32 lakh tribals, 50 lakh nomads and other backward people in Andhra Pradesh. Their habitat spreads along the coastal and mountain strip of the Bay of Bengal from the Srikakulam district to the Khammam and Godavari districts right up to the north-eastwards to the Adilabad region.Maximum of these tribes of Andhra Pradesh have built their settlements in the hilly and forest regions of the state. In the manner of making houses also, these tribes of Andhra Pradesh have also left their marks of exuberance and artistry.
Classified into two classes, the tribes of Andhra Pradesh are spread across the hilly areas of the Deccan Plateau and the rivers Godavari and Krishna. The others belong to the extended areas between the rivers Krishna and the Godavari. The Chenchus of Srisailam hills belong to this class. They are short, with elevated long heads and possess clear and well-defined eyebrows, with protruding mouths and snub flat noses. The general colour of the skin is wheatish and the hair is black and crinkled.
Gadabas, Savaras and Koyas belonging to the Bhadrachalam and Simhachalam hilly areas, bear the complex features of Mongolids and Australids. This tribal area is contiguous to the tribal areas of Bastar, Dandakaranya and Vidarbha. There are about thirty-three kinds of tribals in eight districts of Andhra Pradesh. Important among them are the Khonds, Kolamis, Nayakpods, Koyas, Kondadoras, Valmikis, Bhagatas, Savaras, Jatayus, Gadabas, Yanadis and Chenchus.
Having adopted the elements of Hinduism these tribes worship their own pantheon of nature gods and goddesses and continue to revel in their ancient customs and manners. Their languages do not have scripts and are essentially verbal. These tribals are firmly grounded by traditions. The laws of tradition are always obeyed scrupulously and any breach is strictly censured. Their social life is obedience to the leader who commands immense respect and holds sway over all aspects of tribal life. They do not hesitate to participate in the feasts and festivals of the community. They sing and dance. The Yanadis along the coastline, the Chenchus of the Srisailam hill area, the Koyas and Savaras of Godavari and Srikakulam forest areas, and the Khonds of Adilabad forests are typical in ancient habits. Their beliefs are simple and seek direct uninvolved expression. They are honest with no frailties in character.
There are certain nomadic tribes namely Piccukaguntlu, Balasanta, Saradakandru, Viramushtivaru, Bavanilu, Birannalavaru, Golla-suddulu, Dasarulu, Jangamulu, Kommuvaru etc are Telugu nomads whose main occupation is ballad singing. They are favoured by particular castes for maintaining their family records and singing their past glory.
Some of the tribals are occupied in trade and commerce, while their womenfolk are engaged in cottage industries like making toys, baskets, mats, beads and cosmetics. They are always on the move, subject to the changes of weather and this state of living is traditional. These nomadic tribes have their own forms of recreation and pastimes, which makes their life less rigorous and even contended. They take suffering in their stride but they know how to seek refuge from life`s worries in a native and pleasant manner.
Among non-Telugu nomads, Lambadis also called Sugalis (Banjaras) are very prominent. Originally they were Rajasthanis who took to a nomadic way of life and moved in batches towards the south of the sub-continent. Some of them are found in rural areas. They are itinerant traders. Besides the Lambadis, mercenary soldiers of Maharashtrian stock have settled down mostly in Telangana. They are called `Are` and they speak a dialect, which is a mixture of Marathi and Telugu. Their occupation is agriculture. They have only a spoken language. Their manners and customs are different from those of the country of their domicile.
