Coastal South West India

[1] Coastal South West India spans across the entire Arabian Sea coastline of the Indian subcontinent from the coastline of the Gulf of Kutch in its westernmost corner and stretches across the Gulf of Khambhat, and through the Salsette Island and Mumbai along the Konkan and southwards across the Raigad region and through Kanara and further down through Mangaluru (Mangalore) and along the Malabar unto the southernmost tip to Kanyakumari (Cape Comorin).

In ancient tradition Coastal South West Indian Subcontinent extends till Sri Lanka.

The common elements of the people of coastal south west India includes cuisine that consists of agrarian and coastal products and clothing that involves long flowing drapes with bare midriff for both men and women suited for humid and warm climate.

[13] Another common cultural element of coastal south west India includes relatively more role for women in social system.

[13] Towards the southernmost tip of coastal south western India the social system is considerably more matri-focal with instances of matrilineal and matriarchal tradition like amongst the Bunt community of Tulus and the Marumakkathayam of the nairs and a section of Mappila Muslims.