Raman Rajamannan, the tribal king from Kerala's Idukki and his wife, Binumol, are attended the Republic Day 2025 ceremony in New Delhi.
There are more than 300 Mannan community families in 48 Scheduled Tribe villages in Idukki.
The king has a special place in their rituals.
He is selected from the royal families according to the traditional matrilineal inheritance system.
The king has no rights or duties in civil society, but oversees community matters with the help of four upa rajas (deputies), one ilayaraja (prince), and a 50-member council of ministers, known as kaanis.