AN OVERVIEW OF ETHNIC FOOD HABITS OF VETTAKURUMAN TRIBAL COMMUNITY OF KERALA

Abstract

Tribes are the most significant part of our nation. Tribal communities have certain official status according to the constitution of India. They have their own indigenous knowledge and cultural richness. They all have their own distinct Language, too. They have ethnic knowledge about medicines, foods, and forest gathering. They cultivate most of their food items through different periods. Some food items are collected from the forest, and some with the help of the tribal promoters and officers from the tribal department. Kerala has 36 tribal communities. This study is an overview of ethnic food information. This paper mainly focused on the vital food gatherings of one of the most important tribal groups of Kerala state Vettakuruman tribal community.