Gavara

Gavara is a term used to refer to four distinct and completely unrelated communities in South India.

Gavara is a trading community and is a sub-caste of Balija. They have marriage relationship with the Balijas. They are present in Tamil Nadu. Kavarai is the Tamil name for Balijas who have settled in Tamil Nadu and is the Tamilised rendition of Gavara. The often use the title Naidu and Chetti. The Telugu-speaking Gavara community of Tamil Nadu is related to Balijas. Gavara Balijas are distinct from both Gavara Komatis and the Gavara caste of former Visakhapatnam district, Andhra Pradesh.
Gavara is also the name of a Komati sub-caste. They are a trading community. Gavara Komatis are distinct from Gavara-Balijas as well as the Gavara caste of former Visakhapatnam district.
Alternatively, Gavara is also the name of a small caste mostly present in former Visakhapatnam district and in some parts of the former Godavari districts of Andhra Pradesh. They are not related to Balija caste. They are predominantly agriculturists and are also involved in petty trade.
Kavara is a Tulu speaking caste mostly present in Ernakulam, Palakkad and Thrissur districts of Kerala. They are classified as a Scheduled Caste in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. They are not related to Balija caste.