Paliyar Tribe

A recent study of 'Paliyar Tribals in Kodaikanal and Theni areas' has urged the state government to take immediate steps to uplift the Paliyar tribes and other Adivasi communities.

1. A major finding in a recent research carried out on ‘Paliyar Tribals in Kodaikanal and Theni areas’ pointed out that no one from the 1,173 families living in 36 villages, where the research was conducted, was placed in a government job.

About the Paliyar Tribe:

1. Etymology: The term 'Paliyar' comes from the Tamil word 'Palaniyan,' which means 'a man from Palani.'
2. Names: They are known by various names, including the Paliyans, Pazhaiyarares, and Panaiyars.
3. Location: They are found in the districts of Madurai, Thanjavur, Pudukkottai Tirunelveli, and Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu.
4. Language: They speak Tamil and use the Tamil script for both inter- and intra-group communication.
5. Occupation: Traditionally, the Paliyars were hunters and gatherers living in the Western Ghats forests.

6. Religious Practices:

1. They offer prayers to the Vanadevadai deity in the forest.
2. They also worship the god Karuppan by visiting a remote area of the forest with their families.

Burial Customs:

1. The Paliyar tribes never burned the dead bodies.
2. They had the customary practice of burying the dead bodies near their residential area on the western side.

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