‘Artesian condition’

Context: Residents of Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer district witnessed a rare artesian phenomenon when high-pressure groundwater erupted naturally in Taranagar village flooding 25 bighas of land.

What Are Artesian Conditions?

• Artesian water refers to groundwater stored under high pressure between layers of hard, impermeable rocks.
• It is also called “confined water” due to the materials that trap it underground.
• When the top layer is punctured (e.g., by drilling), the high underground pressure forces water to flow upward naturally, without pumps.
• The term “artesian” comes from Artois in France, where such wells were first observed in the Middle Ages.

Factors Leading to Artesian Condition

• Geological internal pressure within the aquifer. 
• Underground barrier break
• External pressure from overlying rocks.
• Natural pathways due to cracks in the rock.

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Konda Reddi Tribe

Context: Traditional marriages of Konda Reddi  involve extensive rituals, but live-in relationships are gaining acceptance to reduce financial burdens.

• Love marriages, elopements, and marriage by negotiation or service are also common.

About the Konda Reddi Tribe

• Ethnography: Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) inhabiting the banks of the Godavari River in Andhra Pradesh, primarily in the Alluri Sitharama Raju district and Khamama District of Andhra Pradesh.
• Language: Speak Telugu with a distinct accent that reflects their cultural uniqueness.
• Religion: Practices Folk Hinduism, worshipping local deities and following traditional rituals.
• Family and Marriage: Families are patriarchal and patrilocal, with monogamy as the norm, though polygamy exists.
• Livelihood: The tribe relies on shifting cultivation, with jowar as the staple crop.
  • They also  grow commercial crops like cashew, niger, and chillies and depend on forest resources for sustenance.
• Housing: Their unique circular mud-walled houses with thatched roofs mirror Bhunga architecture.
• Political Structure: The tribe has a traditional governance system led by a hereditary headman, the Pedda Kapu, who also serves as the village priest.
• Cultural Change: Modern influences like live-in relationships reflect their adaptability while preserving harmony and traditional values.

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