Volume : 9, Issue : 7, July - 2020

Marital Traditions and Customs among Yanadi's in Nellore District, Andhra Pradesh

Guru Prasad Marella, Dr. M. Padmaja

Abstract :

Marriage is a social institution and marriage and family are complementary concepts. As such marriage is found in almost all societies. Without marriage one cannot think of a family.” It is a set of cultural patterns to sanction parenthood and to provide a stable background for the care and rearing of children.” Among the Indian tribes has peculiar practice of marrying within one’s own group. This marriage within one’s own group is known as Endogamy. Now the Yanadis are an oppressed, pre-dravidian tribe who are found mostly in SPS Nellore and Chittoor districts in Andhra Pradesh, and in some pockets in neighbouring districts. The Yanadi are dark skinned people, short in stature. Many believe them to be tribal because of their primitive ways; others believe them to be a part of a caste system. The Government enlisted them in the Scheduled Tribes category. Their main occupation, apart from fishing and hunting, is domestic work like cleaning which is considered a menial job, some among them still lead a semi-nomadic existence. They have been denied opportunities both in education and employment. Yanadi tribe is one of the tribal groups among 34 sub groups. At Present this sub tribe became the highest population among sub tribe groups in new Andhra Pradesh. Kovur Mandal has long costal line, most of the Yanadies located near the costal line. The present study is concentrated the traditional marriage system and custom of Yanadi Tribes in Kovur Mandal region of Nellore district in Andhra Pradesh.