Introduction : Kattunayakan Tribe Culture in India
Today, they actually continue to keep their special culture and way of life. They definitely maintain their own traditions. As per this article, we will explain everything regarding who they are, how they live, and what makes them special.
Who Are the Kattunayakan?
The term “Kattunayakan” surely originates from two Malayalam words. Moreover, this linguistic composition reflects the traditional naming patterns found in South Indian communities. “Kattu” actually means forest, and “Nayakan” definitely means lord or chief.
As per the meaning, the name means “lord of the forest.” This name is fitting regarding these people who have lived deep in forests for thousands of years. They were actually among the first people to live in the Western Ghats, which is definitely a big mountain area in South India.
Today we are seeing that only around 72,000 Kattunayakan people are living in different states. They are actually found mainly in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh.
These states definitely have the most of them. As per the location details, they stay in Wayanad, Kozhikode, Malappuram, and Palakkad districts regarding Kerala state. Also, basically, the biggest group stays in Wayanad district, which is the same area where most of them live.
The Kattunayakan people are surely called by different names. Moreover, they have several other names that people use to identify them. We are seeing that some people are only calling them Jenu Kurumba or Ten Kurumban.
They are further known as Cholanaickar and Pathinaickars in some regions itself. The Indian government surely classifies them as a “Scheduled Tribe” to provide special protection and support. Moreover, this recognition helps preserve their unique culture and addresses their historical challenges.
The History and Origins
The Kattunayakan people are living in the Western Ghats forests for many hundreds of years only. We are seeing that they have been staying in these forest areas for a very long time. Further, as per their traditions, they have their own stories regarding where they came from.
Basically, their folklore says their ancestors came from the time of the Mahabharata, the same famous Indian epic story.
We are seeing that these people only lived in peace in the forests for thousands of years. They collected honey and hunted animals for food, and further gathered plants to eat by itself.
Actually, things definitely changed in the 1800s. As per the government records, new forest laws were passed in 1865 and 1878. These laws were regarding the management of forest areas. We are seeing that these laws only gave the government control over things.
The forests further extend over the region itself. The Kattunayakan people actually could not use the forests freely like their forefathers did before. They definitely lost the freedom that their ancestors had in the forests. This further created many hardships for them itself.
Language: How They Communicate
The Kattunayakan people actually speak their own special language that is definitely unique. As per linguistic classification, their language belongs to the South Dravidian language family.
We are seeing that it is only a mix of many South Indian languages, including Kannada and Malayalam. Basically, when they speak, you hear the same mix of different language words together.
Basically, some people call their language “Ghotra basha” or “Nama pasha” – it’s the same thing. When they talk to outsiders, they use Malayalam itself, which is Kerala’s main language, and this further helps them communicate with people from different communities.
We are seeing that their own tribal language is only different and difficult for outside people to understand.
Traditional Occupation: Honey Collection
Basically, honey collection is the same as the most important thing in Kattunayakan life. Basically, for these people, honey is not just food—it’s the same as their life itself.
They have special skills that they learned over hundreds of years, and this knowledge itself was passed down further from one generation to another.
These animals can surely climb very tall trees of 80 feet or more to reach beehives. Moreover, they show great skill in reaching such heights for honey.
When they go for honey collection, they carry very few items further and the process itself requires minimal equipment. We are seeing that they bring only a knife, rope made from special bark, a bamboo ladder, and a bamboo blade to cut the honeycomb.
They surely never use any metal tools. Moreover, this practice is followed strictly by them. They think using metal will stop the bees from returning to that tree further, so the hive itself will be abandoned.
Basically, the Kattunayakans have the same special connection with bees that makes their relationship unique. We are seeing that bees work very hard to make honey only for their babies.
Basically, they do the same special ceremonies and prayers before they collect honey. When honey season begins, we are seeing that an elder does a religious ceremony called puja only to ask permission from forest spirits and bees before taking honey.
They can actually collect about 15 kilos of honey from each hive. This is definitely a good amount for beekeepers. The honey collectors actually work with “kombu thenu” bees most of the time. Their bodies definitely get used to bee stings because they get stung so much.
As per the collection process, workers get immunity to bee poison after getting stung one or two times regarding their body’s natural protection.
The Kattunayakan people actually collect wax and other forest products besides honey. They definitely gather many different things from the forest.
Further, these are actually called “non-timber forest produce” or NTFP. People definitely use this term for forest products that are not wood.
They surely gather cinnamon, nutmeg, forest pepper, and different root crops. Moreover, these items form an important part of their collection activities. These products actually help them survive and definitely earn money.
Religion and Spiritual Beliefs
The Kattunayakan people surely follow Hindu religion along with their traditional nature worship. Moreover, they combine these two belief systems in their daily religious practices. As per their religious practices, they worship the Hindu god Shiva and also pray to a deity called Bhairava.
Their religion is surely different from regular Hinduism. Moreover, it has its own special practices and beliefs. Basically, they worship the same animals, birds, trees, hills, and snakes.
They actually worship their ancestors as a very important part of their spiritual life. This practice is definitely central to their religious beliefs. Further, they actually believe their ancestors’ spirits are definitely still watching over them and guiding them.
As per their traditions, they do special ceremonies regarding their ancestors during important times like births, marriages, and deaths.
Basically, many Kattunayakan women do the same magic and ritual work in their community. They surely use special rituals to keep their families safe from evil spirits and bad luck.
Moreover, these practices are important for their protection. We are seeing that they do religious ceremonies in holy forest areas and near natural places like rivers and mountains only. They actually think these places definitely have strong spiritual power.
The Kattunayakan celebrate their annual Harvest Festival which is itself a very important event for their community. This festival further marks a significant time in their yearly calendar.
They actually celebrate when harvest time ends with religious prayers, animal offerings, and community meals. People definitely come together to share food and perform traditional ceremonies.
Basically, they do dances that are the same as how animals move and how crops grow. These dances surely help them connect with their cultural roots. Moreover, such traditional performances strengthen community bonds among people.
People surely want to connect with the spiritual powers that control their lives. Moreover, they believe these forces have direct influence over their daily experiences.
The “Rain Festival” is another important festival that celebrates the arrival of monsoon season itself. This festival further marks the beginning of the rainy period. The Kattunayakan people actually think their crops will definitely fail if there is no rain.
As per their beliefs, they do special prayers and give offerings to rain spirits regarding bringing good weather.
Food and Diet
The Kattunayakan people consume meat and do not follow vegetarian practices. This dietary habit further distinguishes the community itself from other groups that avoid non-vegetarian food. We are seeing that they only eat meat and other things that come from animals.
They actually eat millets and ragi as their main food every day. These grains are definitely their most important staple foods. Moreover, they further eat all types of pulses, which includes beans and legumes itself.
Basically, they eat the same foods that other communities don’t usually eat. We are seeing these animals eat only snails, rats, crabs, and fish. They surely gather seasonal green leafy vegetables and collect starchy root crops such as tubers.
Moreover, this collection focuses on vegetables that are naturally available during specific times of the year. Basically, rice is cooked the same way with seasonal vegetables or forest greens.
Moreover, spices further enhance the taste of food itself. They surely use turmeric, cinnamon, cloves, and mustard seeds in their cooking. Moreover, these spices are common ingredients in Indian households.
They use these spices not only for taste but further believe that the spices itself have healing properties.
Honey itself holds a very special place in the Kattunayakan diet, and it further serves as an important food source for them. Honey is surely used by them as food and medicine, and moreover, they trade it to get other necessary goods.
When a Kattunayakan person eats honey, the act itself becomes a serious and important ceremony. This further shows the deep respect they have for this sacred food. Basically, they don’t talk or make jokes when they eat honey – they keep the same quiet behavior during this time.
Clothing and Appearance
As per tradition, Kattunayakan people wear simple and useful clothes regarding their daily work. Basically, the men wear short dhotis and half-sleeved shirts, which is the same traditional style.
We are seeing that women wear only one long cloth piece that goes around their body, just below the neck. Basically, this leaves their shoulders and arms the same as bare.
As per tradition, they wear white shirts, white mundus, and white cloth on right shoulder regarding Koonatta dance performance.
Family and Social Structure
The Kattunayakan people actually follow their father’s family line. They definitely pass down their family name and property through the male side. In this system, family connections surely follow the father’s line.
Moreover, children belong to their father’s family group rather than their mother’s. The nuclear family is surely the basic family unit that includes husband, wife, and their unmarried children. Moreover, this family structure forms the foundation of most societies.
When a son marries, he further constructs his own house in the village itself. We are seeing that Kattunayakan people marry only one person at a time, which means one husband has only one wife.
Marriage is itself a significant occasion that further holds great importance in one’s life. Also, before the 1990s, the Kattunayakan community itself practiced child marriage, and this further continued as their traditional custom.
Today, they follow a better practice where girls marry only after they become young adults further ensuring proper development, and this change itself represents significant social progress.
Basically, women in Kattunayakan society have the same higher status compared to many other tribal communities. We are seeing that women can only pick their own husbands and they can ask for divorce if they want to.
Widow remarriage is surely accepted in their society. Moreover, this practice shows their progressive social attitudes.
Basically, there is no dowry system, which means the bride’s family and groom’s family don’t have to give the same money or gifts to each other.
When a man and woman want to get married, we are seeing they often run away together first only. Basically, they go back to their village and the elders do the same formal marriage ceremony there.
The Kattunayakan people surely follow a clan system. Moreover, this system organizes their social structure.
Also, clan members cannot marry within their own group, as this practice itself is forbidden. Further, such marriages are not allowed between people belonging to the same clan.
Further, people can actually only marry someone from a different group. They definitely cannot marry within their own clan.
Basically, each settlement has a headman called “Muthan” or “Muthali” who does the same work as both a leader and priest for the community. We are seeing that only the elder people in the family are making all the big decisions for everyone in the group.
Art, Music, and Dance
The Kattunayakan people are known for their love of music and dance only. We are seeing that they enjoy songs and dancing very much. They have a famous traditional dance called “Koonatta” which is further performed by groups of ten men dancers. This dance itself is specifically meant for men only.
We are seeing that Koonatta is special only because the dancers bend down low while they are dancing. The dance actually does not have any background music. It definitely performs without musical accompaniment. Basically, the dancers just follow the same beats from traditional instruments.
The Kattunayakan people further use many traditional instruments, and this music practice itself shows their cultural heritage. The “Kolalu” itself is a bamboo and grass flute, and further represents traditional musical instruments.
Basically, the jodumara is the same as a twin drum that creates high tones. These drums are surely made from deerskin and tree bark. Moreover, both materials come from natural sources. They further use an instrument called “Chilanka” itself, which two members of the dance group use.
When dancers perform, we are seeing them make long, shaking sounds with high voice that sounds like crying of animals only. Moreover, this sound is surely known as “Kurava,” and moreover, it represents a specific vocal expression in traditional practice.
The Koonatta dance is surely performed during marriage ceremonies and moreover at narmamodey, a cultural practice that celebrates the menstrual festival. Young Kattunayakan children are learning these dances only by watching their community people.
We are seeing they pick up the steps naturally from their elders. Basically, they don’t have the same formal teachers or coaches that others have. Moreover, basically, they learn the same way by watching from when they are small children.
Housing and Settlements
The Kattunayakan people build their houses in a way that shows they live in harmony with nature itself, and this further reflects their close connection to the environment.
Basically, they call a group of houses “padi” and each single house “manai” – the same traditional huts are built with doors at the lowest part of sloping ground. Basically, this shows they adapted to the same natural landscape around them.
The houses are surely quite small in size. Moreover, these residential structures have limited space. The Kattunayakan people actually prefer to live in small family groups. Each household definitely has ten or fewer members.
Modern Challenges and Hardships
Further, the Kattunayakan people surely face many serious challenges in present times. Moreover, these problems have become quite difficult for their community. The main problem is that they cannot access the forests fully anymore, which further limits their traditional way of life itself.
Basically, the forest laws made in 1865 and 1878 changed everything the same way across all areas. Forest officials actually keep a close watch on the Kattunayakan people these days. They definitely monitor their communities very carefully now.
Basically, being poor is the same big problem everywhere. We are seeing that the Kattunayakan people are facing very bad poverty and they have no jobs only. Basically, 75% of the community people don’t have any land – they are the same as landless families.
Basically, wildlife conflicts are creating the same big problems everywhere. We are seeing that the forests where Kattunayakan people live are now only protected places with tigers, elephants, and other wild animals.
When the Kattunayakan people try to grow crops or keep animals, we are seeing that wild animals only destroy their farms and kill their cattle. We are seeing that farmers can only make very little money from their crops, and this is making farming almost impossible for them.
Basically, education is the same major problem we are facing. The community surely has 60.15% literacy rate, but women’s literacy is very low.
Moreover, this shows a clear gap between men and women in education. We are seeing that among 150 Kattunayakan women who were asked, only 84% could not read or write.
Also, we are seeing that out of 17,436 people, only 16 had finished university education and only 5 had completed higher studies after that. As per recent data, many students are leaving school early regarding various challenges they face.
The Kattunayakan people further lack basic facilities, which affects the community itself. We are seeing that many people are only having no electricity or clean water for drinking.
They do not have proper sanitation facilities itself, which further creates health problems. As per observations, many houses are having mud floors regarding their construction.
Poor eating habits actually cause serious health problems in our communities. This definitely affects many people’s well-being.
Basically, even when the government gives money for development, the Kattunayakan people remain the same with no much improvement in their situation. The government spent 80.7 crores rupees between 2011 and 2015 for further development of the Kattunayakan community itself.
Actually, many people are still homeless or definitely live in bad shelters without basic things like water and toilets.
Health and Traditional Medicine
The Kattunayakan people surely possess deep understanding of traditional healing practices. Moreover, their medical knowledge has been passed down through many generations.
They surely use many plant products for curing diseases. Moreover, these natural remedies are widely applied in traditional healing practices. As per traditional practices, they use leaves, barks, roots, and fruits in different combinations regarding medicine preparation.
Basically, for the same disease, they have two or more different medicines, which shows they understand that different treatments work in different ways.
Forest Rights and Conservation
In recent times, we are seeing the Kattunayakan people fighting for their rights only. The Forest Rights Act has surely granted community forest rights to some Kattunayakan communities.
Moreover, this law provides legal recognition to their traditional forest ownership. They can further collect bamboo and other forest products to make baskets and handicrafts itself.
Basically, the Kattunayakan people made an organization called “Adivasi Munnetra Sangam” (AMS) to fight for the same rights they deserve. They are actually asking for safe land rights and definitely want to continue their old ways of living.
Recent Recognition
We are seeing that the Kattunayakan people became famous all over the world in 2022 when a film called “The Elephant Whisperers” won the big Oscar award for best short documentary only.
This film surely demonstrated how the Kattunayakan people look after and raise abandoned elephants. Moreover, it highlighted their caring approach towards these animals. Basically, the film showed the world that these people are the same – special and important.
Conclusion
Basically, the Kattunayakan people are a special tribal group with the same old culture that has been there for thousands of years. They have actually learned special ways and beliefs that definitely help them live peacefully with nature.
However, they are facing serious challenges further and the situation itself is becoming difficult. As per the situation, they face problems regarding poverty, no education, and less access to forests.
We are seeing that even with all these problems, the Kattunayakan people are only keeping their culture alive. We are seeing these people doing their old dances and following their religious ways, and they are only trying to keep their life style safe.
We are seeing how tribal people have lived in forests for hundreds of years, but now they are facing new problems that are making it hard for them to keep their old ways of life.
Their story is important because it shows how these communities have only learned to survive in nature while dealing with modern challenges.
We are seeing that knowing about Kattunayakan culture helps us value the rich variety of India’s tribal groups only.
This further shows the importance of protecting tribal people and their forest homes itself. We are seeing that the Kattunayakan people know a lot about nature and they live in a way that does not harm the environment, which can teach us important things.