Life Style and Healing Tradition of an Ethnic Community:: the Vagris

This study on life style and healing tradition of an ethnic community, the vagris was carried out among the settlers in Puducherry, Villupuram, Cuddalore and Panruti of South India. Vagries are the nomadic gypsies and take place in the list of scheduled tribe. Enough care was taken to pick the informers. Accordingly fifty respondents were chosen from all the four regions. Observation and informal interviews were the main source of data collection. Secondary sources were used to supplement the first hand information. Most of them are illiterates. Transition from tradition to modernity was visibly seen. However their costume and life cycle rituals had the tinge of their tradition. Clinical signs of malnutrition was observed with respect to hair, skin, nails, among the respondents. Though they are aware of the richness of their healing tradition they follow allopathy for their illness. The reason behind this was non availability of fauna and flora that are required for healing. There are about five outlets that sell medicines for sprain, asthma, and minor injuries. This report encapsulates the core issue in a very modest form.