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TRIBES
There are different divisions of tribal people living in
different parts of kerala. They differ both in their
living and clothing habits.
In the past, the tribes like the Mala Arayan, Daliyan, and
Malavedan used to wear leafy garments. Koraga women believed
that they pleased the Gods by using grass or leaf skirts. The
usual attire of the hill tribes was a short loin cloth. The
torso was kept uncovered. Later, a piece of cloth was used to
cover the upper body.
The PANIYA Women wore a loin cloth reaching to the knee and
another cloth over the chest. The upper cloth was wound round
the body under the shoulders. One corner of it was taken over
the right shoulder from behind and tied to the top of the front
portion over the breasts so that it did not slip down.
The KURICHIAN women wore a traditional dress that consisted of a
CACHALA (dhoti) up to the knees and Melkuttu a piece of cloth
tied across the left shoulder to cover the breast.
The PALIYA women wore a Chela (color Red Sari)
Kurumar
The Kurumars, another category of tribal people wear a dress
that covers the upper part of the body. They used a mundu known
as the MADAKKUMUNDU which was tucked in the left and reached
till the knees. Men used a towel known as 'Thambran Mundu'. On
special occasions they used silver, Iron, bronze and gold
ornaments.
Theinkurumar
These were the tribals from Kannur and Kasargod who dressed
differently using tree-barks and leaves. Ladies used a handful
of leaves in the front and back. They remained naked above their
waist.
Mannanmar
They are seen not only in Kerala but also in Tamilnadu.They wore
long Sarees called CHELLA with which they covered their breast.
The gents used MUNDU. They wore lots of chains to adorn their
necks. They wore bangles of copper and bronze and also ring of
copper in their hand.
Yogis
The yogis are SHAIVAS who have come from Northern India to
Southern India. Though they settled in North India, their main
centers in the south are KASARGOD, Payyanur, Taliparambu,
Azhikode, Badagara and Calicut. The men used a towel to dress
themselves. The ladies covered their breast with the same towel
that they wore on their person. For Pooja and other ceremonial
occasions the Gurus wore silk dresses.
Adiyans
They are the main tribal community in Wyanad. Men covered
themselves from the waist to knee with MUNDU. Ladies dressed
themselves with a single saree. Men wore earrings called Mathavu
in the lower ear and wore a heavy earring called 'KADUKKAN',.
They had a practice of designing 'tattoo'.
Drastic changes have risen in these traditional dressing habits.
No restrictions on wearing upper garments prevail now. The
western cultural influence and contact brought much uniform
pattern of dressing among these tribals.
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