Kanikkaran
Kanikkar tribal, Travancore, 1905
Total population
25,088[1] (2011 census)
Regions with significant populations
 India
Kerala21,251
Tamil Nadu3,837
Languages
Kanikkaran, Tamil, Malayalam
Religion
Folk Hinduism

Kanikkaran are a tribal community found in the southern parts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu states in India. According to 2011 census there are 24,000 Kanikkars,[2] living in several districts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. They dwell in forests or near to forests in Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam in Kerala, and Kanyakumari and Tirunelveli districts in Tamil Nadu.

Though they cultivate everything and make agriculture as the main profession, they have a special liking for fishing and hunting. Literacy is estimated to be around 53.84%.[3] Kaanikkar Nritham is a form of group dance performed as a rural offering. Kokra is a traditional musical instrument used by them.[4]

Language

The Kanikkaran language is closely related to Tamil, but has significant Malayalam influence.[2][5]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "A-11 Individual Scheduled Tribe Primary Census Abstract Data and its Appendix". www.censusindia.gov.in. Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved 2017-11-03.
  2. 1 2 Kanikkaran A language of India. The Ethnologue Website, retrieved November 21, 2009
  3. ↑ Major Tribals in Kerala. Focus On People, retrieved August 20, 2011
  4. ↑ Tribal Dances. The PRD Kerala Website, retrieved August 20, 2011
  5. ↑ Lewis, Paul M., ed. (2009), Ethnologue: Languages of the World, Sixteenth edition, SIL International, ISBN 978-1-55671-216-6
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