This paper makes an attempt to understand the changing livelihood pattern and food culture of Irular, one of the tribal communities in Kerala, South India. The study focuses on the Irular community living in the Mully area of Attapadi, Palakkad district of Kerala. Like any tribal communities, the livelihood and food culture of Irular are closely associated with the environment. Their beliefs, life cycle rituals, customs, traditions and values are also closed linked with their with livelihood and food system. Both collection and production of food are part of their culture. The Irular were traditionally shifting cultivators, who cultivated ragi and their food culture was dominated by ragi items. Currently major chunk of the population depend on wage labour and their food basket seldom has ragi. It is seen that changes in the livelihood activities and subsequent changes in the ecosystem along with the market economy had a direct bearing on the food collection, preparation and consumption pattern of the community. By employing ethnographic methods viz., interviewing, observation, case studies and narratives, this paper analyses the changing aspects of the livelihood of the community and its impact on their culinary practices.
