Thiruvananthapuram: The members of the Kanikar tribes living in the Agasthya forests reached Kowdiyar Palace to meet with the members of the royal family of Travancore. Their yearly tradition of visiting the royal family before Onam was suspended for three years because of Covid. However, the yearly visit resumed this year and the royal family members received the Kanikar tribe members with traditional honors and due respect.
Members of the tribe also brought with them ‘Onakazhcha’, gifts to the Travancore royal family from the Kanikar tribe. Members from 17 hamlets situated in the Agasthya forests in Thiruvananthapuram district reached the palace as part of an age-old tradition.
The guests brought honey in bamboo bottles, collected from the sacred Agasthya forest. They also brought with them handicrafts made from bamboo. They also discussed the issues faced by the tribals living in the forests.
When the erstwhile ruler of Venad, Marthanda Varma, was living incognito from his enemies, he was given refugee by the Kanikars and was hidden at several places in the dense forests by the tribals.
After Marthanda Varma defeated his enemies and ascended the throne, he did not forget the Kanikars who helped him during his time of distress. The hamlets that exists in the Agasthya forests are built on the tax free land granted by the King, when he came to power.
The Kanikar tribe members were received by Pooyam Thirunal Gouri Parvathi Bhai, Ashwathi Thirunal Gauri Lekshmi Bhai, Aditya Varma and other members of the royal family at the Kowdiyar Palace.
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