Plants and People

<p>This is a close examination of the ways in which plant life and human life are symbolically intertwined in two rural villages of Hassan District Karnataka State India. After presenting a general overview of South Asian cultural traditions related to symbolic uses of plants the author shares results of an in-depth study of the ways that plants have been used in rites of passage by multiple castes. The author her partner and a local team conducted detailed interviews and observations on birth maturation marriage pregnancy death and other rituals in 1966-67. A follow-up study of plants covered folk taxonomy local understandings of plant types and plant parts in 1976-77. Includes photos and other illustrations a bibliography and a glossary of botanical names.</p>