Kalyansinghpur: Abduction of a girl for marriage is considered a crime under law in any civilized society. However, the act is not only acceptable but popular among the Dongria Kondhs. ‘Kania Jhinka’ is an integral part of their lifestyle.
A Dongria youth tries his best to woo a girl and abduct her with the help of his friends on a festive occasion to spend the rest of his life with her.
People Tuesday witnessed such an unusual incident at Majhiguda market on the foothills of Niyamgiri under Kalyansinghpur block in Rayagada district.
The still image of ‘abduction’ of the girl became a matter of discussion in civilized society.
“Dakarireja Nenga Aai Machabu,” this is how a friend of the prospective groom responded in Dongria Qui language when contacted by this correspondent. He wanted to convey that they were forcibly lifting the girl for marriage.
Though the girl was howling loudly to escape, the youths didn’t let her go. The stiff resistance by the girl’s friends didn’t bear any result leaving hundreds of people enjoying the traditional pre-wedding ritual of the Kondhs. Ultimately, the girl was taken to Puiguda village near Kalyani river. Later, they boarded an autorickshaw and left for Railima, the village of the groom to go ahead with the formalities.
According to the ritual, the family of the bride would reach the groom’s house for negotiation so that both sides can move forward with the ceremony. The girl’s family demands Kania Jhola, a gift from boy’s family. If the demands are not fulfilled, the girl’s family generally returns home with the girl.
Kania Jhola includes four bottles of liquor, three bullocks and certain amount of rice.
Once both sides reach an agreement, a community feast is held at the groom’s village and then the bride is taken to a nearby stream. The maidens of the groom’s village catch a crab and put it on the palm of the bride. The groom comes to the rescue of the girl when the latter screamed in pain after she is bitten by the crab. The tribals believe that the act of removing the crab from the palm of the girl increases the affinity between the two and they live happily forever.
In Tuesday’s incident the bride was Kadraka Puyen of Tebapada village while Dasuru Huika of Railima village was the groom. Both the villages come under Sunakhandi panchayat.
Interestingly, it is often noticed that people from both the sides get involved in serious fight and end up wounding each other. Despite this, the friends of the groom don’t let the girl go.
It is not only the Dongria Kondhs, the Kutias and Jharania Kondhs also follow this age-old ritual before starting family life and they take pride in the ritual. PNN
