They are a pastoral community and their traditional occupation is tending cattle and cultivation.
[6] The Maniyanis are believed to have come from the ancient Yadava clan and associate themselves closely with the god Krishna.
The majority of the Maniyanis are concentrated in the districts of Kannur and Kasaragod.
[6] They follow similar birth, marriage & death customs and rituals like other Nair sub-castes.
Maniyanis also perform Poorakkali in Muchilot bhagavathi temples.