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In the Land of Paniya

Nikolay Yankov

If Kerala is “God‘s own country” then
Wayanad with its ocean of untouched forests,
wildlife and tribal communities is the “divine
garden“. We have always been fascinated by the
tribal cultures as they are the first philologists
on Earth – the one who have devoted their lives
on researching the language of the environment.
This time we were heading for a journey into
the heart of Wayanad to meet one of the most
ancient and distinctive ethnic groups of India
– the Paniya. The facial features of Paniya, their
curly hair, wide nostrils and the specific body
decorations, mainly the large ear plugs they put
as a token of age suggested African ancestry.
We met and talked with members of the tribe
but the most vivid scene was the opportunity to
witness a commemoration ceremony on behalf
of a deceased person. Paniya of Wayand still
live in a realm of peace where the primordial
technologies reign – the fire, the water, the
plants and the stones.