Abstract

The vast population of the sub-continent of India is composed of different ethnic groups with diverse cultures and languages. But in spite of this diversity of cultures and languages the people of India through the vicissitudes of history have come to feel the unity of Indian nationhood. Siddhis are people of African Negroes stock who settled in India from ancient times. Most of the Siddhis were brought as slaves and a few came as traders. The Siddhis were either brought to the island of Janjira as slaves or they had come on their own as traders by sly and devious means during 15^th century. Here an attempt has been made, holistically to study lifestyle and socio-cultural organization of Siddhis of Gudandur villages in Yellapur Taluka of Uttara Kannada district.

Keywords: Ethnic group, Culture, Texture, Kinship, Literacy, Monogamy, Custom.