PEOPLE & LIFESTYLE OF KARNATAKA Tribal Population : Kurubas and Kodavas Traditional Attire : Sarees (Women) Kurta and Lungi (Men) Official Language : Kannada Religion Followed : Hinduism, Islam and Christianity

People and Lifestyle in Karnataka – Bound by Indigenous Traditions

A varied mix of ethnicity, culture, religious and race comprise of the people of Karnataka. The amicable population of Karnataka lives in perfect harmony and mutual contact with their neighbors and inmates. Malayalis, Tamils, Marathis and people from Andhra Pradesh and all over the country have co-existed in mutual harmony with the endemic people of the land for centuries.

Local Population – Examples of harmony and Tolerance

Though the tribes like the Kurubas and Kodavas are believed to be the aboriginal beings of Karnataka but due to modern development, Karnataka today has population that comes from every walk of life. The people of Karnataka are great hosts and tourists will be flabbergasted to be invited to stop over at every house for a drink or two. Known for upholding their religious tolerance, the lifestyle of people is simple who abide by their unique customs, enchanting culture and rigid beliefs.

There are various tribes in Karnataka that have their individual language and unique traditions. The Kodavas of Coorg are one of the prominent ethnic tribes and are known as a warrior race. Throughout ages, the Kodavas have preserved and nurtured their distinctive cultural traits.

Language of Karnataka – The Unique Vocabulary

Just like the culture and traditions of Karnataka, the language of the state is nonpareil as well. Kannada is the official language of the state that is spoken by the majority of Karnataka people. However, other lingual groups like Tamil, Malayali, Konkani, Hindi and Urdu also exist. The majority of people follow the Hindu religion which is further followed by Islam and Christianity. The Malayali groups are centered around Mysore and have a distinct socio-linguistic group.

Dress of Karnataka People – Draped with Elegance and Style

The dress of Karnataka is very similar to the pattern of other states of South India. Known for their grace, convenience and decency which is an integral part of their culture, the men can be found in shirts or kurtas along with a lungi on the upper and lower body respectively. The women are seen in Sarees, the traditional dress of women. Saree is worn in the characteristic nivi style of southern India with pleats in the front and sometime passed on to the rear to facilitate movement. However, this can differentiate as per the norms of a particular region.