Tribal Development project at Halakki Gowda Tribal hamlet

                               

Rural Development Project by Know Your Indian Roots.

Halakki Vokkaliga: Discover this powerful community from Uttara Kannada

The Halakki Vokkaliga are a community that live in the depths of Uttara Kannada in Karnataka, the Halakki have been held together by its women for over 400 years. Often compared to the Masai of Africa, as well as the Aborigines, the women dress in saris that are tied in a sarong-like manner and play diverse roles within the community. They are agriculturists living on farm lands located at the outskirts of towns that are sandwiched between the mighty Western Ghats in the East and the expanse of the Arabian sea on the West, 75,000 Halakkis live in Koppas under direct control of their community heads. Mud walls and floors of their thatched huts are elaborately decorated with "Hali" (white Rangoli against black or red background.) "Halakki Kannada" refers to the dialect of the state language in which these people converse. They have a rich folklore.

The roles of the Halakki women include helping with cultivation and the village economies, as well as holding together the community, thus giving them an important position within society. The women are distinguished by their attire, whether working in the paddy fields, or engaging in community matters. Glass and metal bangles stacked, and beaded necklaces are markers of their unique appearance. The short, blouse-less saris are designed to help the women adapt to the hot weather and work efficiently in the fields.

Their women (Gowdathis) are graceful, light in colour and very pretty. The hair is parted in the centre and brought back into a pendulous bun. Their nose, ears, necks, arms and ankles are loaded with ornaments made of brass, copper and silver. They have a great fancy for blue, yellow and red beads, and wear them in large numbers, around their necks in the form of strings. Women are extremely hard working and a bridegroom must pay "Tara" (bride price) to his father-in-law prior to wedding. 

The most widely believed myth about the origin of the tribe involves Shiva and Parvati. Upon dropping the milk and rice that she had collected for her husband, Parvati decided to craft dolls out of the mixture of mud and milk. These idols were brought to life by Shiva and given the task of accompanying him in the fields, since they were essentially made of rice. They were named the Halakki.

The practices and beliefs of the Halakki Vokkaliga are centred around the cultivation of the land and the yield of fertile harvests. These beliefs find their roots in the musical traditions passed on through the community over generations. The women sing their songs to assert their identity and belief in nature’s karmic powers.

Sadly, globalization has led to a change in the outlook of many of the young natives. This has led to a large flux towards metropolitan cities, beyond the confines of their native culture. Precisely 4 women remain, who can successfully interpolate the traditional music of the tribe. Despite the decline of these age-old practices with time, they remain distinct through the efforts of the remaining few through whom they live on.

We are looking who can help us with below Rural Development projects for Artist, Arts and Tribals.

➰Public health and sanitation
➰Literacy
➰Female empowerment
➰Enforcement of law and order
➰Land reforms
➰Infrastructure development like irrigation, electricity etc.
➰Availability of credit
➰Eradication of poverty

If any one like to be part of it. Please ping me.