Embracing the tradition, members of the Kani tribe, or Kanikkar, living in the Agasthyakoodam hills offered ‘thirumulkazhcha’ to the royal family of erstwhile Travancore on Monday at the Pattom Palace here.
The group, comprising men, women and children, presented containers of wild honey, plantains, gooseberries and basket wares to the head of the royal family Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma. In return, Uthradom Thirunal gave the tribes ‘kodi’ (new cloth), ‘dakshina’ (money) and food.
“The tradition includes the tribe presenting forest produce to the king and and he presenting them new clothes, money bags and food to them. It was followed even during the time of Sree Moolam Thirunal,” says historian M G Sasibhooshan. However, with the passage of time, homemade sweets that are given to the tribe members gave way to plastic-wrapped candies and money bags to bank cheques.
Every year, before Thiruvonam in the month of Chingam, representatives of the tribe visit the members of the royal family and pay respect by presenting them with forest resources and fruits.
The members of the tribal settlements of Pattampara, Kunnathutheri, Cherumangal, Aamode, Pattanippara, Mukkothivayal, Pothode, Aamala, Moonnumokkan and Erumbiyode etc travelled all the way from Kottur to the Pattom Palace as arranged by Kottoor Mundanimadan Thampuran Kshethra Trust.
“The preparations for the visit started months ago. The drying of the strips of screw pine plants that are used to make baskets and carriers should be done in summer. So, the collection of raw materials starts even before that,” says Villiyan Kani, a member of the tribe who has been a part of the visit for the past eight years.
The tribe once gave refuge to King Marthanda Varma during the time of war. Expressing his gratitude, the Maharaja presented them with an area of forest land where they could settle down and cultivate crops. But later, when India became independent, the ownership of the land went to the government, leaving them homeless.
Their settlements lie five to thirty kilometres inside the Kottur forest. The only transportation facility available for the inhabitants is a jeep granted by former Forest Minister K B Ganesh Kumar and two KSRTC services that reach up to five kilometres inside the forest.
The members of the tribe expressed their travel woes and other grievances to Uthradom Thirunal, asking him to take up the issues with the authorities. The tribesmen also asked the members of the royal family to persuade the Department of Forest to build trenches and fences around their farms to protect them from wild animals.
“Wild elephants and boars are destroying the farms, threatening our financial and food security. Our children always have to walk in fear of animal attack. We hope Uthradom Thirunal will take up the issue with the authorities and find a solution,” said Vinod, a member of the Trust.
The group had started its journey from the settlements to Kottur by foot and, from there, proceeded in a mini van arranged by the Trust to the city. They paid a visit to the Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple after the session at the palace.