The People
After The Rains, one of the finest luxury wildlife resorts in Kerala, is situated in the Moopainad panchayat of Wayanad. The people of the neighboring small village of Puthukkad are mainly plantation workers, farmers & daily wage workers. It is very usual to see crops of pepper, coffee, curry leaves, chili, ginger and diary in most of the households. ‘Kunjim kaka’ one of the oldest tea sellers in the area sits smiling in his small tea shop. Don’t be amused if you meet an auto rickshaw driver who speaks mediocre English or a plantation worker listening to western music. With its old welcoming charm and easy lifestyle, Puthukkad is a village where time stands still.
The community surrounding our resort in Wayanad mainly consist of “Paniya”, “Nayker”, “Kurumba” & “Moopan” tribes. They are mainly daily wagers, plantation workers or forest guards. Most of them are good singers who sing local folklore, while others play instruments like ‘thudi’, ‘chenda’, ‘thapu’ and ‘cheeni’. These communities depend upon the forest and the seasons for their survival. The “paniya” and “kurumba” are historically the working class community while the “Nayker” and “Moopan” are traditionally hunters. Festivals are part of their lifestyle to mark various occasions where ‘thira’ (a performance where the performer is believed to be possessed by god), pooja, dance and music are performed.
