What Maternal DNA Tells Us About the Konkan Coast
Left: Members of the Khārvi community circumambulating a ritual pyre built around an arecanut tree during Hōḷi (ಹೋಳಿ). Middle: Members of the Kuḍubi community performing the traditional Gumaṭ (ಗುಮಟ್) dance during Hōḷi celebrations. Right: A Sārasvata woman performing the sacred Cūḍi pūjā (ಚೂಡಿ ಪೂಜಾ) ritual. T he Konkan region on the picturesque west coast of India is renowned for its vibrant culture, rich folklore, and incredible ethnolinguistic diversity . But beneath the surface of traditions, language, and everyday life lies a deeply fascinating genetic story . A comprehensive scientific study on the maternal genetics of the Koṅkaṇī-speaking population offers a window into how ancient climate shifts, Holocene migrations and socio-cultural influences shaped the genetic landscape of western India . Map showing sampling sites along the Koṅkaṇ-Malabar coast of India. Blue represents the Koṅkaṇ region and yellow represents the Malabar region. Pie chart of haplogroup frequency distributio...