Had an amazing opportunity to interact with the Siddi community, who visited Uravu Bamboo Grove as part of their project Damami, in collaboration with Suyathri and Uravu Eco Links. The 19 members of the group came from Yellapur in Uttara Kannada. They spent a day here to learn about community tourism and its aspects. They also shared their cultural diversity and how they preserve their ancestral values. Corinne Karlaganis, Head of Tourism, Uravu Eco Links explained to them how the concept of community living is applied in UBG. The Siddi community performed some of their cultural activities at UBG premises. As a cultural exchange, the local community also showcased some of their performances.
The Siddi community is a unique and vibrant group of Afro-descendants in India, with a rich history that dates back to the 16th and 17th centuries in Goa, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh, and a presence in Gujarat for nearly a thousand years. They trace their ancestry to the Bantu people from Southeast Africa, who were brought to India by the Arabs and the Portuguese as slaves, traders, sailors, or soldiersAd12 They have a population of about 150,000 in India, mostly living in Karnataka, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, and Andhra Pradesh.