![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/hindi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/16\/2021\/09\/siddi-353037_1920-350x223.jpg\")
Image by Bishnu Sarangi<\/a> from Pixabay<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n Yellapur\u00a0is a district in Karnataka known for its forests\u00a0\u091c\u0902\u0917\u0932, waterfalls\u00a0\u091d\u0930\u0928\u0947\u00a0and beautiful lakes\u00a0\u091d\u0940\u0932\u0947\u0902.\u00a0The\u00a0Siddi\u00a0community<\/a>, which are a group of people in India their home for many years, live deep in the forests of Yellapur<\/a>. Descendents of the Ubuntu tribe from African countries such as Ethiopia and Kenya.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Portuguese and\u00a0\u00a0Arab traders brought their ancestors \u092a\u0942\u0930\u094d\u0935\u091c,when they needed tall, sturdy and strong men to carry heavy luggage \u092d\u093e\u0930\u0940 \u0938\u093e\u092e\u093e\u0928 during trade. The Karnataka Siddis came to Goa initially but due to conflict \u0938\u0902\u0918\u0930\u094d\u0937 had to flee into the surrounding forests of Karnataka, where they have<\/span> lived in the forests for approximately\u00a0\u0932\u0917\u092d\u0917 200 years but now since the last 40-50 years live closer to the cities.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The word Siddi is a title of respect\u00a0\u0906\u0926\u0930\u00a0that has its roots in Arabic. The word \u2018sayed\u2019 or \u2018saidi\u2019\u00a0which\u00a0 means\u00a0master\u00a0or leader\u00a0\u0928\u0947\u0924\u093e.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n There are about\u00a050\u00a0thousand\u00a0Siddis\u00a0living in Karnataka. They form three distinct\u00a0\u0905\u0932\u0917\u00a0communities that tend to physically live in and within their communities\u00a0\u0938\u092e\u0941\u0926\u093e\u092f\u094b\u0902. These communities are based on religion\u00a0\u0927\u0930\u094d\u092e.\u00a0The Hindu\u00a0Siddis\u00a0number around 50 thousand, while the Christian\u00a0Siddies\u00a0are approximately 25 thousand and then the Muslim\u00a0Siddies\u00a0are around 15 thousand.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n While, the Hindu Siddis live near their farms fields, and work on the farms for their living, the Christian and Muslim Siddis live in colonies adjacent \u092a\u093e\u0930\u094d\u0936\u094d\u0935\u0938\u094d\u0925 to their workplaces.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The Siddis of Karnataka speak konkani, marathi and kannada. And they also learn Hindi in schools although the majority of their education \u0936\u093f\u0915\u094d\u0937\u093e is in the Kannada language. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The Hindu Siddis use the name as their last name while the Christian Siddis use Christian names like D\u2019souza and Fernandes. While the Muslim Siddis use names such as Naikar, Mujawar, etc.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The\u00a0Siddis\u00a0live in rustic\u00a0\u0926\u0947\u0939\u093e\u0924\u0940\u00a0homes with fireplaces\u00a0\u091a\u093f\u092e\u0928\u0940\u00a0or coal fires to cook. Most of their food comes from the forest and the lakes.\u00a0They drink black tea \u2013 eat\u00a0dosas\u00a0and fish curry\u00a0cooked on a little coal fire.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The Siddis love to create quilts called Kaundi. They create cotton patchwork \u092a\u0948\u092c\u0928\u094d\u0926\u0915\u093e\u0930\u0940 of colorful fabrics,\u00a0 hand quilted \u0930\u091c\u093e\u0908 \u0913\u0922\u093c\u0947 these beautiful tapestries together.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It takes about 20 days to complete one bedspread quilt.\u00a0If sold in the nearby cities of Bangalore they can fetch\u00a0upto\u00a0$40 dollars.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Many cities take up archery\u00a0\u0927\u0928\u0941\u0930\u094d\u0935\u093f\u0926\u094d\u092f\u093e\u00a0but of late NGO\u2019s\u00a0are encouraging the\u00a0Siddis\u00a0to take advantage of their African roots and physical strength to participate in track and field sports\u00a0\u0916\u0947\u0932-\u0915\u0942\u0926. Siddi kids prepare for the Olympics in track\u00a0even as India provides amenities to encourage the sport.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Today’s Siddis opt for education and modern \u0906\u0927\u0941\u0928\u093f\u0915 day jobs instead of farming and quilt making. They move to cities like Bangalore and Mumbai to work. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Locals \u0938\u094d\u0925\u093e\u0928\u0940\u092f accept the Siddies but if they travel outside the area they face racial discrimination \u0928\u0938\u094d\u0932\u0940\u092f \u092d\u0947\u0926\u092d\u093e\u0935. In times past the Siddis tried to disassociate themselves from their ancestral roots. However, modern day Siddis are embracing and wearing their traditions and culture with pride.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Yellapur\u00a0is a district in Karnataka known for its forests\u00a0\u091c\u0902\u0917\u0932, waterfalls\u00a0\u091d\u0930\u0928\u0947\u00a0and beautiful lakes\u00a0\u091d\u0940\u0932\u0947\u0902.\u00a0The\u00a0Siddi\u00a0community, which are a group of people in India their home for many years, live deep in the forests of Yellapur. Descendents of the Ubuntu tribe from African countries such as Ethiopia and Kenya.\u00a0 Portuguese and\u00a0\u00a0Arab traders brought their ancestors \u092a\u0942\u0930\u094d\u0935\u091c,when they needed…<\/p>\nLanguage<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
Housing<\/span><\/h2>\n
Culture<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
Sports<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
Education<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
Racial Discrimination<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n