Kallar (caste) facts for kids

Kallar is a community from southern India. They are part of a group called the Mukkulathor confederacy, which means they are linked with two other communities: the Maravar and the Agamudayar (also known as Thevar). These groups historically shared some common ways of life, even though they lived in different places and had their own unique backgrounds.

Who are the Kallar?

The Kallar people are one of the three main groups that form the Mukkulathor confederacy in southern India. This confederacy is like a historical alliance of communities. While the Kallar, Maravar, and Agamudayar (Thevar) communities had different origins and lived in separate areas, they were often seen as a united social group because of similar traditional jobs and customs.

Traditional Skills and Practices

Historically, the Kallar, along with the Nadar and Thevar communities, were known for practicing a special Tamil martial art. This art had different names, including adi murai, chinna adi, and varna ati. These martial arts were important for self-defense and physical training. The Kallar people also traditionally ate a non-vegetarian diet.

Images for kids

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  Ramachandra Tondaiman, Raja of Pudukkottai seated in his palace, 1858