The ‘daivappuras’ (a common place of worship) in major tribal hamlets in Wayanad district will soon get a new lease of life, thanks to the timely intervention of the district administration.
The mud-coated ‘daivappuras’ or ‘valiyapuras’, adorned with various tribal art designs, were a common sight in the hill district a few decades ago. It played a significant role in the life of tribal communities, especially among the Mullakuruma sect, in the past. All rituals from birth to death and all tribal festivals such as Puthari, Uchal, Karkidakam Pathinalu and Samkranthi were interlinked with the ‘daivappuras’.
Lack of maintenance
However, many ‘daivappuras’ were ruined due to the disintegration of the joint family system and lack of maintenance. Those that survived the vagaries of time are in a dilapidated state at present.
“We are planning to restore the ‘daivappuras’ in major tribal hamlets such as Thirumugham, Kongiyambam and Nediyancheri in the district on a fast-track mode,” Wayanad District Collector S. Suhas told The Hindu after a visit to the Thirumugham tribal hamlet at Pakkom near Pulpally on Saturday.
The ‘daivappura’ at Thirumugham was demolished a few years ago, and is yet to be reconstructed. Hence, the tribesmen are using a temporary shed for the purpose.
The restoration project will be executed in association with the Tribal Development Department and the District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC).
“These ‘daivappuras’ are an integral part of the Kuruma tribe culture, which cannot and shall not be altered by our intervention,” said Mr. Suhas, adding that the construction shall meet the requirements and aspirations of the members of each hamlet.
Mr. Suhas has directed the DTPC engineer to submit an estimate and prepare a plan for restoring the structures. “The construction work would be handed over to a tribal house construction society and it would be completed by the end of December,” he said. All construction workers would be selected from tribal communities as they had direct knowledge about the requirements and specifications of daivappuras, added Mr. Suhas.
