People of Karnataka

Firm believers of 'Simple Living, High Thinking' philosophy, the people of Karnataka are quite accommodating. With a major chunk of the population being rural, violence in the state is a rare phenomenon. Warm hospitality and a friendly attitude is what the visitors are treated with here. However, the urban life is a bit too fast and cosmopolitan. People converse in Kannada, the official language of the state. But Hindi, Konkani, Tulu and Coorgi are also widely spoken and understood here.

Well placed in terms of natural resources, the rural population of the state is mainly involved in growing coffee, tea, rubber, spices, cashew, rice mango, coconuts, vanilla and banana etc that are consumed locally only. But the urban people look for white collared jobs only. With three internationally acclaimed education centers at Mangalore, Udupi, and Manipal, the state has a very high literacy rate.

In the coastal areas, fishing is one of the main occupations of people as it is consumed apart from rice, vegetables and fruits. Pottery is also one of the major occupations of rural Karnataka. Clay is spun with dexterity using manual pottery wheels, to create pots and lids. A time honored profession though, this rhythmic spinning of the wheel will keep molding Mother Earth into elegant creations finding way from the dexterous hands of the artisans.