The Bonda tribal market

Posted on by Miriam

We’re still catching up on our time in South Odisha and I promised a post on the second of our tribal market visits. Another early start and a two and a half hour journey took us to the hills to await the arrival of the Bonda group at a weekly market.

Bonda women and school children

According to Satya, our guide, the Bonda is pretty matrilineal: a Bonda boy is expected to marry between the ages of 10 and 12, and to work until the price of his bride is paid. Since women marry boys five to ten years younger than them, they look after their husband until he grows up and looks after his older wife. Women greatly exceed the number of men, amongst whom alcoholism is a big problem. (Alcohol is made from the mahua flower – see below.) There is, apparently, also a high rate of fratricide amongst the men.

This woman noticed us on the road and stopped to sell us beads, one of the traditional forms of adornment.
The women sell other products such as wild fruit and vegetables as well – here, a local is checking in this woman’s (recycled) bag to see what she is selling.
The Bonda women shave their heads and wear two kinds of headband – one made of beads and one of grass, apparently., though I suspect this has changed a bit.
The metal bands around the women’s necks are made of aluminium and therefore fairly light.
However, this woman is from another tribal group and her metal rings – which are never removed – weigh an absolute ton.
Bonda men arriving at the market to sell mahua wine – we were warned that they could be a bit fierce and/or drunk so we kept away.
Mahua flowers for sale.
Seen in the Bonda market – I thought this was a really out-there hairstyle and worth including!

Published by Miriam

14 thoughts on “The Bonda tribal market”

  2. These photos are worthy of a sociological book. Fascinating text too. I am loving what I’m learning about these tribal cultures.
    Is there any “legitimate” use for the Mahua flowers, or is their sale always for alcohol production?

    1. I think the flowers are used in other ways – medicine perhaps or in certain dishes ( I know I’ve been told but can’t now remember). The alcohol seems by far the most popular use.

  3. I assume you bought beads from the seller. Now needing to see pics of you both adorned in your purchases, hair knives included.
    The cross over with African clothing, jewellery, custom, is amazing really.

    1. No beads I’m afraid – we’ll just have to wear the knife unaccesorized… agree about the African cross over – really striking.

  4. Love the headbands and the brilliant blue capes…
    And like Ken, I think this is all a book in the making.

    1. Very very complex I think and I suspect many of the customs are disappearing. What struck me was that this all seemed real – not put on for the tourists though the presence of tourists ( very few – 2 or 3) affected the women . The selling of beads, for example, was specifically aimed at foreign visitors.

  5. These are wonderful pictures of the women. I wish I had studied Anthropology. Your photos make me want to know more about these women’s lives and about the society in which they live and their culture and values.

    1. Me too, Claire. We were really fortunate to have a guide with us who had made a serious study of tribal peoples and was able to interact with them in a way we certainly couldn’t.

  6. What a fascinating societal structure and the women have such extraordinary, characterful faces. Aquamarine seems to be colour of choice for your cape and we join with the person above in requesting a picture of you both adorned in your new purchases – with beads slung about your person ad lib and lethal weaponry in your hair.

  7. I know we’ve been away for a while but you do remember what we look like, right? The knife in the hair thing definitely not going to work…

  8. I’m shocked by boys as young as 10-12 forced to marry women five years older, young girls themselves too. These are all children. What are the adults up to? not looked after their children – do they die at young age (for our standards)? And they then (likely when much older?) kill their fathers! Anthropological analyses – references, please.

    beautiful colour, beading work is fantastic. great photos.

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