Published Paper Details:

Tribals are frequently known as 'Adivasis' or native inhabitants. There are 36 tribal communities in Kerala. Kerala is a home to some 500,000 tribal people. Wayanad is a homeland of various tribal communities. Each community has its own culture, belief, economy and social organization. The most important tribal groups on Kerala are 'Adiyan', 'Kattunaikan', 'Malaipandaram', 'Cholanayakan', 'Malaivetan', 'Malayan', 'Irulan', 'Kadar', 'Mutuvan', 'Kanikkar', etc. The 'Kanis' or 'Kanikkars' have settled in the forests of the Agasthyamalai hills of the Western Ghats in the Thiruvananthapuram District of Kerala. They are also seen in the Adimali hills of Idukki. The Kanikkar people have a strong clan system. According to the Indian Census report published in 1981, there are fourteen thousand Kanikkar tribe members overall. The present study attempts to evaluate the features of culture and tradition of kanikkars tribe. They have their own unique culture, lifestyle, tradition and practices.