People toda religion centers on the buffalo

people. Toda religion centers on the buffalo consequently, rituals are performed for all
dairy activities as well as for the ordination of dairymen-priests.
Todas are strictly endogamous i.e marriage alliances occur exclusively within a tribe. The
tribe is divided into two moiety - Tartharol and Teivaliol. The member of Tartharol
considers themselves superior. Therefore former remains in charge of the sacred
buffaloes, whereas the worker come from the Teivaliol. Each moiety is sub-divided into a
number of clans. Tartharol possesses 12 clans and Teivaliol posses 6 clans. Each clan is
exogamous, patrilineal and territorial in nature. Each clan further divides into two sub-
clans: Kudr and Polm. A sub-clan is divided into a number of families. Toda exhibit
Polyandrous type of families. A woman with her multiple husbands with children usually
from this type of family. If the husbands are brothers, the family is called fraternal
polyandrous family. In this family sociological fatherhood is more important than
biological fatherhood. The kinship system of Toda is emphasized on classificatory terms
i.e each term of designation denotes a number of relatives in the same rank, belonging to
particular sex. Marriage proposals for girls came at the age of five or six. Due female
infanticide there is very large difference in sex ratio between male and female so
polyandry get sanction in the society. Both type of cross-cousin marriage are in vogue in
Toda society. In all cases, Bride price is compulsory. Descent is patrilineal. Property
passes from father to legal sons, Female have no right on property.
CHENCHU
The chenchu is food-gathering tribe of Andhra Pradesh. Some Chenchu also live near
states like Orissa, Tamil nadu and Karnataka. The word Chenchu means a person living
under a tree(chettu). Chenchu is endogamous in nature. A clan is further divided into
families. The families are nuclear type, based on monogamy. Polygyny is rare in

occurance. The community never exhibit joint or extended family. Married sons with
their wife and children live in separate huts. The family is Patrilineal and Patrilocal. The
kinship system is classificatory as well as bilateral in type. The Affinal kins are
distinguished from the Consanguineal kins, the Chenchus count both the father and
mother line in determining the descent.
Marriage takes place either by negotiation or by elopement. Cross- cousin marriage is
preferred in the community. When guardians do not give consent for a marriage, the boy
elopes the girl and goes to another village and return after few months or a year when
their guardians ‗ anger is subsided and couple is accepted in the family. Widow of
Chenchu society is allowed for second marriage. This society is strictly patriarchal.