Kutia Kandha Tribe

The practice of tattooing the face by women, which was going on for generations in the Kutia Kandha tribe, has now almost completely ended.

About Kutia Kandha Tribe

Introduction: This tribe is a major part of the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) Kandha who speak Kui and Kuvi Dravidian languages.
- They are one of the most ancient indigenous PVTGs who have retained their distinctive socio-cultural characteristics.
Population: According to the 2011 census, the total population of the Kandha tribe is about 17.43 lakhs, out of which 93.35% live in Odisha, 5.92% in Andhra Pradesh and about 10,000 in Chhattisgarh.
Habitat: This tribe is mainly found in the southern hilly areas of Odisha, such as Kandhamal, Rayagada, Kalahandi and Koraput districts.
- Some Kandhas also reside in Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Visakhanagaram districts of Andhra Pradesh.
Kutiya Kandhas are known for their simple paintings, especially the ‘Tikanga Kuda’ made by women, which is made with rice flour and natural colours.

For generations, Kandha women have been tattooing their faces in bold, geometric designs, not for decoration but for protection.
The intention was to look less attractive so that they could avoid sexual exploitation by landlords, local royals and British colonialists.
Kandha girls were forced to get facial tattoos at the age of 10.
The tattoos were in a uniform pattern, covering all parts of the face.
Due to modernity, young girls have stopped this practice and this painful tradition is not being passed on to the next generation.