Introduction / History

The Kolta community is distributed in the Balangir, Sambalpur and Sundargarh districts of Orissa. There are a number of gotras among the Kolta such as Balabhadra, Kashyapa, Bharadwaj and Ganesh. They use surnames such as Bhoi, Biswal, Padhan, Sahu and Samal.

The Kolta speak the Oriya language and use the Oriya script. They are also conversant with Hindi and Bengali. Their marriage rituals are performed at the bride's residence and the eldest son inherits authority in the family. Divorce and remarriages are allowed. The dead are cremated.

The Kolta are a land owning community who are mainly engaged in cultivation, cattle and goat rearing. Rice is their staple cereal. Some of them are teachers, engineers and doctors.

Social control is exercised by the community councils such as the Jati Sabha and Mahasabha. Traditionally they accept water and cooked food from the Brahmin and Karan and accept only water from the Dumala and Gaudh. They share the same religious shrines with other communities.

The Koltas profess Hinduism and worship the gods namely, Ganesh, Lakshmi, Samaleswari, Patneswari and other deities. They observe the Chait Parab, Makara and Nuakhia festivals. They play musical instruments like Dhole or drum, Ektara or a string instrument and the flute.

Religion: Hindu

Prayer Points

* For the salvation of the Pano people and that God may send several Christian workers to work among them and meet their spiritual and physical needs.
* For the Christian media to reach and touch them through their regional forms and language.