To the outsider, the term "Poorikal" might simply mean people from the hilly regions of Palakkad, Idukki, or Wayanad. But in the local ethos, it meant much more. It was a badge of honor. It denoted resilience. The Poorikal were the ones who walked where roads ended, who farmed on slopes that looked like vertical walls, and who lived in a constant, respectful dialogue with the wild elephants and the leopards.
In the cultural hierarchy of Kerala’s spirituality, if the great temples are the cities of the gods, the shrines of the Poorikal are the border outposts. They are often worshipped in (sacred groves) or small shrines at the entrance of villages. Kerala Poorikal
: Used in the abusive slang term (Poori/പൂറി). 4. Cultural Significance and Unity To the outsider, the term "Poorikal" might simply