Documenting the ethno-cultural practices of Bagata tribe of Andhra Pradesh

The division undertook the documentation of the ethno-cultural practices of Bagata tribe of Andhra Pradesh in the Vishakhapatnam area.

The material culture of a Tribe gives true distinctive picture of its lifestyle, the living culture in relation to the social organization religion and other ceremonial practices, as well as to other material sides of the tribal’s life. So, the various aspects of material culture of the tribe’s viz., household pattern, garments, ornaments, food style/habit, art and craft, dance and music etc. have projected the distinctive culture of the tribes of Padheru and Araku Valley in Costal Andhra Pradesh in Visakhapatnam district.

The ancestors of the present Bagatas, it is believed, worked as soldiers to the rulers of Golugonda. They say because of their good services with great devotion (Bhakti) as soldiers to the Golugonda chieftains, they got the name Bhakta, which in course of time corrupted to Bhagata and finally to Bagata. Bagatas are pronounced as Bagatha, Bhaktas, Bhagat, Bagodi, Bogad and Bagatas. They are one of the numerically preponderant and ethnically significant tribes of Andhra Pradesh and distributed predominantly in the Scheduled areas of Visakhapatnam district. Bagatas are traditionally agriculturists and life of these people has for generations revolved around seasons.