Pulaya
Pulaya is a caste group mostly found in modern-day Indian states of Kerala, Karnataka and historically in Tamil Nadu. They are classified as a Scheduled Caste under India's reservation system in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
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. The folk dance Chozhikali is performed by the Pulayar community of central Kerala.Demography
According to the 2011 Census, the Pulayan population in Kerala was 1,338,008. They are a Scheduled Caste under India's reservation system in the state of Kerala and Tamil Nadu.Notable people
- Ayyankali, social reformer
- K. G. Balakrishnan, 37th Chief Justice of India
- Dharmajan Bolgatty, Indian actor
- Chittayam Gopakumar, deputy speaker of 14th Kerala legislative assembly
- Nandanar, a Nayanar saint, venerated in the Hindu sect of Shaivism
- C. T. Ravikumar, judge of the Supreme Court of India
- P. K. Rosy, first heroine of the Malayalam film industry
- Punnala Sreekumar, general secretary of Kerala Pulayar Maha Sabha
- Kodikunnel Suresh, member of Parliament
- K. P. Vallon, social reformer
- Dakshayani Velayudhan, former member of the Constituent Assembly
- Vinayakan, actor and dancer