The Nayar live are a caste located in the Indian state of Kerala. They are considered horticulturists, that is, a form of non-mechanized and non-intensive plant cultivation. However, they rely on the plants they hunt and harvest wild foods such as fruits and nuts. The Nayars can also be considered industrialists as they own or are involved in one way or another in many industries. In this article, you will learn about their parentage, gender relations, beliefs and values. The Nayar group in India are a people very different from anyone else in the world. They consist of many lineage types and different wealth spectrums. They are considered horticulturists and some are considered industrialists. But their families are all made up of the same ancestors. The Nayar practice Hinduism and are matrilineal. When it comes to their family unit, things start to get a little strange. Their family unit is made up of brothers, sisters and youngest children. Within ancient and aristocratic families, households sometimes comprised from fifty to eighty people up to two hundred people. The undivided Nayars family can live under the same roof but the men must occupy other rooms separate from those of the women. But if a particular family is considered wealthy, the males may live in a neighboring compound. The Muttam is an enclosed area located in front of the family house (Panikkar, 1918). Sometimes this land is used as an ornamental garden and no man is allowed to set foot on this particular land. Even though men are not allowed on this ground, children are allowed to play there during the day, but at night the women have their party...... middle of paper ...... the way to Iron also brought coconuts and pepper for export as well as the cashew nut which was first introduced by the Portuguese and became a very important cash crop. Rice, among other imports, became in high demand from Europe. Since all this new trade, larger villages began selling British or American toiletries, glass, metal ware, and other products (Gough, 1952). The Nayars have a generational kinship system. They can therefore be organized according to sex, age and gender, which are the most important principles. Although they reverse their lineage affiliations quite frequently to be able to perform rituals. As you can see, the Nayars are a strange but rather interesting group. They have rituals that they follow and adhere to in their daily lives. The Nayar also practice rituals and traditions that we Americans wouldn't even think of doing in our own lives..