Bhadrachalam ITDA Documents Family Deities (Ilavelpulu) of Adivasi Koyas

Nalgonda: After setting up a tribal museum showcasing the culture, traditions and lifestyles of tribal communities, the Bhadrachalam Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) has embarked on another initiative to document the history of family deities locally known as Ilavelpulu and worshiped by Adivasi Koya communities.

Among the Adivasi Koyas, Ekalpulu refers to ancestral or family deities chosen by families based on faith and belief. Regardless of tradition, families traditionally worship gods believed to protect or guide them through difficult times, holding rituals and festivals in their honor. To document this largely oral tradition, ITDA constituted a special task force comprising three elders from the Adivasi community, three Thalapathulu (traditional priests) and three ITDA officials. The initiative was led by ITDA project officer B. Rahul.

Tribal Museum custodian and study team member Veera Swamy said documenting the Ilavelpulu was a complicated task because beliefs vary across families and surnames. He added that not all Koya families with the same surname worship the same Ilavelpulu, as the belief is shaped by individual family beliefs.

The team conducted extensive field visits in Adivasi settlements in the Bhadradri-Kothagudem district and documented 142 gaddes (sacred platforms) where Ilavelpulu deities were installed for worship and festivals. The research covered ancestral deities worshiped by members of the seven gattu gothrams and approximately 750 surnames.

Rahul said the documentation of Ilavelpulu will serve as an important cultural record of the Adivasi Koya community. He noted that Ekalpulu was seen as a god, but also as a protector and guide. Since this history has been preserved for generations only through oral traditions, ITDA decided to document it in writing.

Based on the study, ITDA plans to produce a comprehensive 500-page book titled “Adivasi Koya–Ilavelpulu”. The documents were compiled using 22 parameters and will detail the origins of ancestral deities, methods of worship, festivals, times of rituals and their cultural significance. This effort will help preserve traditions that are increasingly disappearing due to modern influences, officials said.