Wellness Perception and Spiritual Wellness Practices of women of the Irula Tribe of the Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve, India

Abstract

Spiritual Wellness promotion is primordial at a fundamental level. For Indigenous Peoples across the world spiritual wellness is their way of life. In India we have many traditional and tribal communities that practice a holistic, nature-centric spiritual wellness. Towards learning more about Indigenous communities and their spiritual wellness conducted this exploratory study among the Irulas of the Nilgiris District in Tamil Nadu India. Being one of earlier settlers of the Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve, the Irulas have played an important role in the maintenance of the forests and environment of the Nilgiris.Methods: The study design is an ethnography qualitative study using In-depth interviews conducted using Dr. Kovach’s Conversation methodology for researching and documenting Indigenous Ontology. The Indigenous peoples are one of the Primitive Tribes of the Nilgiris District in Southern India known as the Irulas. The settlements that were accessed for the interview include villages in the eastern and western slopes of the Nilgiris. Results: Using basic qualitative analysis of coding and theme generation, data allowed to derive 4 themes about spiritual wellness namely: What is Spirituality, Importance of participation, Sustaining Practices and Conviction. There is a shift and adaptation to contemporary spiritual practices driven by lack of access to their forests and grasslands and also because of education and exposure of the younger generation.Conclusion: Development over time has resulted in changes in their natural environment as well as social environment leading to generational perception and practices of spirituality among women of the Irula tribes of the Nilgiris.