Culture of Tulunadu: Traditions, Practices and Modern Transformations - A Critical Review

Rathna Melmane

Abstract: Tulunadu, a distinctive cultural region of coastal Karnataka, has developed a rich cultural identity through language, oral traditions, ritual practices, performing arts, agrarian life, and interactions among diverse communities. This review examines major dimensions of Tulunadu culture through a qualitative and interdisciplinary assessment of existing scholarship. Particular attention is given to Tulu oral traditions, Paddanas, Daivaradhane, Yakshagana, Kambala, nature-related traditions, and changing cultural practices. The review shows that these traditions function as important forms of cultural memory while continuing to respond to modernisation, migration, media, and changing social relationships. Tulunadu culture is therefore best understood as a dynamic cultural system rather than a static collection of inherited customs. Its long-term preservation requires systematic documentation, responsible scholarship, digital archiving, and active community participation.

Keywords: Tulunadu, Tulu culture, Paddanas, Daivaradhane, Yakshagana, Kambala, oral tradition, cultural heritage