Maritime Heritage And Cultural Continuity Of The Paravas In The Tiruchendur Taluk Of Tamil Nadu

Abstract

This paper examines the Maritime Heritage and Cultural background of the fishing communities of the Tiruchendur Taluk of this Indian subcontinent and more specifically of the Paravas who are one of the oldest sea communities. The paper discusses the theories of origin of the Paravas, their history of a maritime economy, religious practices, social organizations, the cultural continuity and changes studied as a result of Portuguese contact and Catholic conversion during the 16th century. The paper uses historical documents, missionary literature, oral history and ethnographic reports to demonstrate how the Paravas managed to maintain their identity throughout the centuries in response to the pressure of the political system, changes in the economy and religion. Their connection to the sea, pearl-diving economy, native worship, leadership by the community, family system, festivals, and their marriage rituals bring out a complicated cultural system, which has been influenced by geography, mythology and their colonial history. The discussion illustrates that the Paravas of Tiruchendur are one of the few Indian maritime cultures that have carried on with a continuous maritime practice since the Sangam era up to the current times. The article ends by stating that interdisciplinary studies on the topic of coastal heritage, maritime traditions, and socio-cultural development of indigenous Parava communities in South India remain necessary.