A total of 17 families belonging to the Paliyar Tribe in the Dindigul district have petitioned the Dindigul Collector, urging the district administration to recognise and develop their existing settlement as a formal village.
About Paliyar Tribe:
They are an indigenous tribal community primarily found in the hilly regions of Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
They are and have been known by multiple names, such as the Paliyans, Pazhaiyarares, and Panaiyars.
Historically, the Paliyars were spread all over the Dindigul district and the Sirumalai Palani hills, adjacent to the Western Ghats.
As they inhabited the Palani hills, they were known as Panaiyars.
Language: They primarily speak a dialect related to Tamil, reflecting their Dravidian linguistic heritage.
Occupation:
Traditionally, the Paliyars were hunters and gatherers, residing in the forests of the Western Ghats.
Presently, they have transformed into traders of forest products, food cultivators, and beekeepers, with some working intermittently as wage labourers, mostly on plantations.
They are recognized for their extensive knowledge and traditional practices pertaining to the use of medicinal plants.
Palliyars have small communities called kudis, sometimes living in caves or mud shelters.
The Paliyar tribes never burned the dead bodies. They had the customary practice of burying the dead bodies in an area near to their residential area on the western side.
Their festivals involve nature-based rituals, dancing, and music.
They have a special ceremony to invoke rain and protect the forest spirits.
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