The cultural tradition of Malkangiri is evident from the entertainment programmes of Dance and songs of the tribal people. The region of Malkangiri, though exhibits tribal culture, there is an essential distinctive feature, which characterizes the cultural tradition and pattern of the different tribes living here.
Music is one of the chief features of amusement adopted by all the tribes and in some cases, this cultural trait of adopting music, became their main occupation. Music and dance is associated with crude instruments. During the festive season, when they perform their local dance and music, an unusual unity between the men and women is noticed. Apart from performing during the festive season women sing in chorus when working in the fields, and men and boys while away in the lonely hours of watching cattle by singing plaintive melodies on bamboo flutes or twanging a two stringed mandolin provided with a dried ground for a sounding board. Though music is a common cultural trait to all the tribes dwelling here, in each tribe different type of music are approved for different seasons and different occasions.
Dance occupies an important part in the cultural tradition of Malkangiri. All men and women can take part in the dancing. In time of festivals dancing parties begin at nightfall, last whole night and continue even through the following day. However each tribe has a distinctive pattern of dance, which reflects the peculiar cultural traits of Malkangiri.The mimic fight performed by the Koya tribes tying buffalo or bison horns on their heads is the chief cultural dance of the Koyas. Parojas dance is also an important cultural festival of Malkangiri district. All the unmarried and married young girls participate in the Parojas dance. They arrange themselves accordingly passing one`s right hand behind the next girls back and grasping the left elbow of the third. The dance depicts the cultural tradition of Malkangiri district.
Among the distinctive cultural pattern of the different tribes in Malkangiri, the remarkable trait of the Bonda culture is worth mentioning. They observe the taboos on incest or adultery and their religious obligations with such things define the essential trait of their culture. The Bondas spent much of the time in religious festivals and the feasts and other recreation centering that festival. During every festival there is a routine worship of every demigod and demon in the calendar. The chief festival among the Kondh is the Kedu festival which was once associated with human sacrifice. At present a buffalo is sacrificed in place of the human victim. These distinctive cultural qualities of each tribe constitute the cultural life of Malkangiri.
Hunting is one of the favorite recreations of the tribes in Malkangiri. During the summer when they don`t have any source of income, the men and boys participate in hunting. Centering hunting, several competitions are also organized and hunting is now elevated to the status of cultural festival of Malkangiri. Such festivals culminate in a feast and carouse in the village.
