Nayar Essay

1913 WordsMay 7, 20138 Pages
sam ANT 101 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology Gale Mason-Chagil March 11, 2013 The Nayar live is a caste that is located in the India state of Kerala. They are considered to be horticulturalist, which is non-mechanized, and non-intensive form of plant cultivation. Although, they depend on plants they do hunt and collect wild food such as fruits and nuts. The Nayar can also be considered industrialists because they either own or have some type of involvement with the many industries. In this paper you will read about their Kinship, gender relations, beliefs and values. The Nayar group within India is very different people than anyone else in the world. They consist of many types of lineages and different spectrums of wealth. They are considered to be horticultures and some are considered to be industrialists. But their families are all made up of the same ancestors. The Nayar practice Hinduism and are matrilineal. When it comes to their family unit things begin to get a little strange. Their family unit consists of brothers, sisters, and latter children. Within the old and aristocratic families sometimes the households would consist of fifty to eighty people all the way up to two hundred people. The Nayars undivided family may live under the same roof but the males have to occupy other rooms separate from the females. But if a particular family is considered to be rich the males may live within a neighboring compound. The Muttam is a closed piece of ground that is located in front of the families’ house (Panikkar, 1918). Sometimes this piece of land is used as an ornamental garden and no men are allowed to step foot on this particular piece of ground. Even though the men are not allowed on that piece of ground the children are allowed to play in it during the day but by night the females perform their dances and merriment in the evenings. Also set up
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