basic statistics on tribes and tribal areas of andhra pradesh

(As Khonds and Jatapus are one and same tribe, detailed ethnographic note is
furnished under Khonds)
10. KAMMARA
Kammaras are a scheduled Tribe inhabiting the scheduled areas and adjoining areas in
Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, East Godavari and West Godavari districts.
They are also called Konda Kammara and Ojas. Their population as per 1991 census is
44,613. The total literacy rate among Kammara is 18.08.
Even though traditional occupation of Kammaras of scheduled areas is black smithy
and carpentry. Most of them gave up their traditional occupation and resorting to shifting
cultivation and settled cultivation.
Kammara tribe is divided into a number of totemic clans, which regulate marital
relations among the Kammaras. Some of the popular clans are Korra (Sun), Killo (Tiger),
Bhalu (bear), Samardi (flower), Pangi (Kite) etc., and their surnames are identical with
surnames of other tribal groups in Visakhapatnam district.
Marriage by mutual love and elopement, marriage by capture, marriage by service
and marriage by negotiations is socially approved forms of acquiring mates. Both levirate
and sororate are in vogue. Kammaras eat Beef and Pork.
Kammaras worship Nisahan Devatha, Sankudevata, Jakiri Devatha and Gangalamma.
They perform festivals like Chaitrapurab, Gangalamma Panduga and new fruit crop eating
ceremonies such as Mamidi Kotha, Kandi Koha, Chikkudu Kotha and Korra, Sama Kotha.
They perform Dimsa folk dance along with other tribal groups.
They have traditional tribal council of their own, which regulates the social life of
Kammaras and to settle the disputes.
Kammaras have been living in symbiosis with other tribes of the area. They
manufacture agricultural implements and supply them to other tribals of the village and
receive in kind for their services.