Pulayar

The Pulayar (also Pulaya, Pulayas, Cherumar, Cheramar and Cheraman) is a Dalit (untouchable) caste[1] in Hinduism, forming one of the main social groups in modern-day Kerala and Karnataka as well as in historical Tamil Nadu or Tamilakam.

Traditions

Pulayars are noted for their music, craftsmanship, and for certain dances which include Kōlam-thullal, a mask dance which is part of their exorcism rituals, as well as the Mudi-āttam or hair-dance which has its origins in a fertility ritual.[2][3][4]

Demography

According to the 2011 Census, the Pulayan population in Kerala was 1,338,008.[5] They are a Scheduled Caste under India's reservation system in that state[6] and in Tamil Nadu.[7]

Notable people

See also

Arts of Pulayar caste:

References
  1. Moffatt, Michael (2015). An Untouchable Community in South India: Structure and Consensus. Princeton University Press. p. 42. ISBN 978-1-40087-036-3.
  2. "PRIMAL ELEMENTS:THE ORAL TRADITION".
  3. "Early Evidence for Caste in South India, p. 467-492 in Dimensions of Social Life: Essays in honor of David G. Mandelbaum, Edited by Paul Hockings and Mouton de Gruyter, Berlin, New York, Amsterdam, 1987". Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  4. http://www.soas.ac.uk/research/publications/journals/ijjs/file46109.pdf
  5. "Census of India Website : Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India". www.censusindia.gov.in. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
  6. "List of Scheduled Castes in the Kerala State". Kerala Public Service Commission, State Government of Kerala. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  7. "Tamil Nadu". Ministry of Social Justice. 2017. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
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