The Social Practices Of Maha Malasar Tribes Of Western  Ghats In The Anamalai  Hills Of Coimbatore District – A Study

A. KRISHNAVENI; P. LOGANATHAN

doi:10.69980/redvet.v25i2.2521

A. KRISHNAVENI Ph.D., Research Scholar (Part-Time, (External), Department of History, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar, Tamil Nadu, India
P. LOGANATHAN Assistant Professor of History (Deputed), Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar, Tamil Nadu, India

DOI: https://doi.org/10.69980/redvet.v25i2.2521

Keywords: Arasan, Kattujathi, Alai, Mooppan, Ponnuthalavi, Kilangu, KalVazhai, Maada, Seekakai, Thandais, Karumathi, Perungunru

Abstract

The paper highlights the social practices of MahaMalasar Tribes of Western Ghats in the Anamalai Hills.The MahaMalasar Tribes are a small tribal group in Coimbatore District and they are medium stature, dark in colour having curly hair.Their dialect is different from others,because they speak in Tamil which is mixed with Malayam words.They are living in 5 settlements and the total population is 76.Their houses are made of bamboo walls,odai leaves and roof with cement sheets and floors are made of mud.They are nuclear type of families with inheritance and succession through the male line.The MahaMalasarare non-vegetarians but avoid eating beef and buffalo meat.Their men wear long dhoties and women wear coloured sarees.The main occupation of the people is food gathering from the forest. Their usual custom is to have arranged marriages.They are mostly following Hinduism.The MahaMalasarare socially and educationally backward but healthcare wise they are stronger.

References

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12. Field visit to the Chinnarpathi settlement by the researcher and interview with the eldest of the MahaMalasar on 09.08.2022.
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15. Ibid.
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17. Tribal and other Traditional Forest Lives (Recognition of Forest Rights) Rules 2006,2012,Section [3 (1) c]
18. Field visit to the range offices in Anamalai Tiger Reserve, Pollachi Division
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21. Ibid, pp.866-877.
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24. Interview with MahaMalasar tribal woman, Kamala, age 55, Palakinaar Settlement on 11-08-2022.
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30. Ibid, p.148.
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