Cultural Archive

The Kuyalu (also known in some regions as Cheenam or Cheeni) is an essential traditional wind instrument of the Paniya community. In Paniya culture, whenever Thudi is played, the Kuyalu must accompany it. Playing the Thudi without the sound of the Kuyalu feels incomplete. It is played across all major life events and rituals, including weddings, puberty rites (Thirandu kalyana/Nirenja Kallyana), deity rituals, and funeral rites. WATCH NOW: Kuyalu: A Traditional Wind Instrumen

“Adivasis were never Hindus. We became Hindus through government certificates.” — Vasudevan Cheekalloor The Archival and Research Project (ARPO) recently hosted a panel discussion in Wayanad as part of the Earthlore initiative. The panel brought together members of the Paniya community from Sulthan Bathery, Kalpetta, and Mananthavady who are active in art, literature, culture, and social work across Wayanad. They gathered to share their stories, traditions, history, and mode

In the cultural heritage of Kerala’s Paniya tribe, Thudi is far more than a simple percussion instrument. It is considered the rhythmic heartbeat of the community. From births and weddings to harvest rituals (Kambala) and funeral rites, no ceremony is complete without its resonance.thudi's beats and rhythm. While the sound of the Thudi is widely celebrated, the traditional art of making a Thudi requires precision, knowledge about the forest, and sacred craftsmanship passed do

In the hills of Wayanad, Kerala, the indigenous Paniya community carries a rhythm that echoes through every milestone of their life. At the center of this musical and cultural heritage is Thudi, a traditional percussion instrument that serves as far more than just a musical tool. It is the rhythmic pulse connecting the Paniya people to their land, ancestors, and spirit world. WATCH NOW: Thudi: A Percussion Instrument of the Paniya Community The Heartbeat of Life’s Milestones

For generations, jewellery has been an important part of life in the Paniya community. Among many traditional ornaments worn by Paniya women such as Panathali, Kalle, and Mudechilu, Choothumani stands out for its striking red kunnikuru seeds and the remarkable tradition of wearing it. The ornament is designed for stretched earlobes, a practice once common among Paniya women and still remembered by many elders today. While fewer young women wear Choothumani in their daily liv

The Paniya community is the largest single scheduled tribe population in Kerala. Primarily residing across the lush landscapes of Wayanad including regions such as Sulthan Bathery, Vythiri, and Mananthavady their population also extends into adjacent border regions of Tamil Nadu and parts of Karnataka . The Paniya cultural life carries knowledge, rituals, songs and performing arts, shaped by a deep relationship with the land and community. In this series, members of the Paniy

Paliya Ulsavam is the annual festival of the Paliyar community in Kerala, held every April. Rooted in forest traditions and ancestral worship, the festival today blends temple rituals with cultural expressions like Kummi-adi and Paliya Nritham. From the sacred pilgrimage to Kalluveriyar to votive offerings such as Mulapayaru, Maavilakku, and Theechatti, the celebration reflects the community’s deep faith, resilience, and collective identity.

At Chakkupallam in Idukki, the Paliyar community comes together each April to celebrate Paliya Ulsavam, their annual harvest-season festival at their newly built Sree Badrakaliyamman Temple.

Among the various cultural celebrations of the Mannan community, Pongal stands out as a significant and spiritually rooted annual festival. While Kalaayoottu is perhaps more well-known, Pongal carries its own weight in ritual, symbolism, and community spirit. Deeply tied to the land, the gods, and the lineage of clans, the festival serves as a religious observance, reaffirming the identity and unity within the Mannan society. Mannan community memebers gathered at Chinnar for

Paliya Nritham, a dance form practiced by the Paliya community in Kerala in their settlement at Kumali, is an example on how the community builds livelihood by upholding their cultural practice and identity. Tucked away from the hectic tourist spots of Thekkady, Vellayankaani Paliya Parambaragatha Nritham, a team of 20 + enthusiastic individuals from Paliyakudi, Kumily practices their dance form of Paliya Nritham to their set of songs with various traditional instruments. He