Chenchuvaru Hakku Patras

These are the Hakku Patras of the Chenchuvaru. Chenchus are one of the well known tribes of Andhra Pradesh. They lived mainly in the Nallamala forest and hills area. In the medieval period it was Sri Krishna Devaraya, the king of Vijayanagara who gave patronage to the Chenchus. Since then Chenchus profess Vaishnavaism as their cult religion. In the social structure of Andhra Village, their job is, to collect honourarium from people by sounding the bells and showing them their Hakku Patras. At the festival season, they wear new costumes, which are decorated with motifs of flock of birds.