Kanara

The Kanara or Canara region (also called Karavali ಕರಾವಳಿ) comprises three coastal districts of Karnataka, namely Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttara Kannada, in the southern state of India. Kanara forms the southern part of the Konkan coast. The length of this region from north to south is around 300 km and width varies from 30 km to 110 km. The region is characterised by swaying palms and swift brooks running towards the Arabian sea.

Etymology

Lord Parshurama commanding Lord Varuna to make the seas recede to make the Konkan.

According to legend Parashurama, the avatar of Vishnu, retrieved this place from the sea by throwing his axe into the sea. The sea fell back to the place where his axe fell. Hence this place is also called Parshurama Kshetra.

According to Historian Severino da Silva in his book History of Christianity in Canara vol. I, he mentioned that ancient names for this region are Kol Kannam (Tamil: no man's land) or Parashuram Srashti (creation of Parashuram).^[1] According to Mr. Severine Silva, a former advocate at Karwar and Stephen Fuchs author of the work The Marriage Customs of the Christians in South Canara, India The name Canara is the invention of European traders (Portuguese, Dutch and English) who for the purpose of trade came to this tract from the early 16th century onwards. The Bednore Dynasty, under whose rule this tract was at that time, was known to them as the Kannada Dynasty, i.e., the dynasty speaking the Kannada language. The letter 'd' being always pronounced like 'r' by the Europeans, the district was named by them Kanara (or Kannada). This name was retained by the British after their occupation of the district in 1799, and ever since this name has remained. However according to them the controversy over the meaning of the place-name 'Canara' does not end with this explanation. It is a complicated question which cannot be discussed here.^[2]

History

The indigenous population of this district are called Tuluva, probably from the Tamil tolal—one who roams or wanders about.^[2] It is impossible to state at what period this name was introduced; but it is certain that it came into existence only after the coastal strip of Canara was reclaimed from the sea and populated. The people who first settled here were called Tuluvas. Since very little research has been done about the prehistory of Canara, it is difficult to know who the earliest inhabitants of Tuluva were. Possibly they came in very ancient times from Kerala.^[1]

Geography

Coordinates: 14°53′N 74°35′E / 14.883°N 74.583°E / 14.883; 74.583

The three districts in the region are Uttara Kannada (North Canara) whose administrative headquarters is Karwar, Udupi district whose district headquarters is Udupi, and Dakshina Kannada (South Canara), whose administrative headquarters is Mangalore. The region is bounded on the east by the Western Ghats and on the west by the Arabian Sea. The coastal strip between the Western Ghats and the sea, including Kanara and the state of Goa and coastal Maharashtra to the north, is known as the Konkan coast, while the coast of Kerala is known as the Malabar coast. Kanara is also known as the Karavali coast.

Culture

Even though many languages are spoken like Tulu, Konkani and to some extent Kannada there are many common factors in food, culture, rituals, traditions. Rice, fish and coconut oil are commonly used ingedients in the food of the people of Karavali region. Spirit worship (Bhuta Kola), Serpent worship (Nagaradhane), Buffalo race (Kambala), Yakshagana are some of common traditional rituals followed. Major ethnic groups are the Tuluvas and Konkanis.

The main languages spoken in this area are Tulu and Konkani. The northern half is predominantly Konkani and the southern half is predominantly Tulu. The majority of the people follow Hinduism. Other religions practiced include Christianity and Islam. While the Tulu speakers are exclusively Hindus, Christians are almost exclusively Konkani speakers. This region has many sites of Hindu pilgrimage including Kollur, Dharmasthala, Udupi Srikrishna Muta (Temple), Kateel, Murdeshwara, Idagungi and Gokarna. The main occupation of the natives is farming and fishing. Fish is the staple diet of the people living in this region. Coconut is used generously in all the dishes.

The region has abundant rainfall, recording average annual rainfall among the highest in India.

Commerce

This region is also known as 'the cradle of Indian banking'. Konkan railway runs through the length of this region. The largest railway terminus in this region is at Mangalore. There are two major ports, New Mangalore Port and Karwar. The only airport in this region is Mangalore International Airport, with air connections to major cities in India and the Middle East. The southern part of this region is one of the most industrialised regions of Karnataka, with Karnataka's only petroleum refinery, iron ore pelletisation plants, steel plants, and fertiliser plants.

See also

• North Canara
• South Canara

Notes

References

• Silva, Severine; Stephen Fuchs (1965) (PDF, 2.48 MB). The Marriage Customs of the Christians in South Canara. 2. 24. Asian Folklore Studies, Nanzan University (Japan). https://www.nanzan-u.ac.jp/SHUBUNKEN/publications/afs/pdf/a173.pdf. Retrieved 2009-04-23. 
• Silva, Severine (1961). History of Christianity in Canara. I. Coompta, North Canara: Star of Kanara Press. 

External links

• Yakshagana
• Karavali festival