The Padannan is also called Kanakkan (not the Kanakkan of Palakkad District). They claim that they were brought to Kerala to maintain accounts of the temples and given the title Kanakkapillai (accountant). The title Kanakkapillai has become Kannakkan in the course of time. However, they are not using the title Kanakkapillai. Their traditional occupations are fishing in backwaters, lime burning and salt panning. Many follow these occupations still now. They speak a mixed language of Tamil and Malayalam. They follow Hinduism. They are grouped under the Scheduled Caste. They are non-vegetarians.

The Padannan is following both nuclear and joint family systems. They observe pre-delivery rituals and post delivery pollution.  Birth pollution lasts for 26 days. They also observe naming ceremony and choroonu.  They perform puberty rite known as koottukalyanam. They follow monogamy. Marriages are performed at the bride’s residence. They cremate their dead and Death pollution (Pula) is observed for 11 days. 

Palakkad Thandan are found only in Palakkad and in Thalappally Taluk of Thrissur District. They are distinct from Thandan of other regions. Though they were engaged traditionally in toddy tapping, they were not considered as Thiyyas or Izhavas. They are given Scheduled Caste status by virtue of a Supreme Court. They follow Hinduism. They are non-vegetarians. Their traditional occupation is toddy tapping from the palmyra trees. They are also engaged in other occupation such as agriculture, business, government and private jobs.

They perform pulikudy (puliyoonu) on the seventh month of pregnancy. They celebrate irupathyettukettu and naming ceremony on the 28th day of birth. They perform therandukalyanam (puberty ceremony) and thalikettukalyanam (vettukettukalyanam) in the past. Monogamy is followed. Marriages are performed in the bride’s residence or temples. In the past there was no ritual of tying thali; but now they tie thali around the neck of bride. Exchange of floral garlands and rings are also the other rituals. They bury dead bodies. Death pollution (Pula) lasts for 14 days.  

Pallan is a Scheduled Caste community seen in Idukki district. The name Pallan might have originated from their ancestors, Pallava. They are non-vegetarians. . They worship Hindu gods or goddess. They are agricultural labourers by tradition and they continue their traditional occupation in tea and cardamom estates.
 
They observe pre-delivery rituals. The birth pollution lasts for 30 days. They perform irupathyettukettu on the 30th day of birth. On the 90th day of birth they celebrate mundan ceremony. On the first menarche of girls, they perform puberty rite. Marriage rituals are performed at the bridegroom’s residence. The bridegroom ties thali (a yellow thread) around the neck of the bride and both the bride and bridegroom take food from a single plantain leaf. They either bury or cremate their dead. They observe death pollution (pula) for 16 days.

The Panan are inhabited in almost all parts of Kerala but they mainly inhabited in Palakkad District. They are grouped under Scheduled Caste. Their mother tongue is Malayalam. They are non-vegetarians. They maintain nuclear type of families.  According to the Census Report of 1901 they were characterized as exorcists and evil spirit dancers. It is true that they practice black art and their chief deities are Chathan and Kali. It is the Panan who perform the ritual known as thuyilunarthal. The Panan and his wife used to visit houses during the month of Karkidakom (July-August) for singing holy songs accompanied by thudi (a small drum) and kuzhithalam (a kind of cymbal). Panankali is their traditional dance form. Apart from their traditional occupation, they engaged in almost all type of agricultural operations and as masons in umbrella making in once it was the

privilege of Panan headman to present umbrella to Palakkad Rajah customarily. In Palakkad, they present Porattunatakam during festivals. Panan community is engaged by Christians to perform Pananvaravu as a part of their marriage. Panan sing the rights and privileges of Christians on the occasion before the invited guests.Panan observe birth pollution for 15 days. On 28th day of birth they celebrate naming ceremony. Choroonu is also conducted after six months.  They perform puberty rite when girls attain puberty.  Marriages are taken place in bride’s residence. Thali is the symbol of marriage. They either cremate or bury the dead bodies. Death pollution (Pula) lasts for 15 days.

PANDARAN

The Pandaran are also called Pappada Chetty, Pappada Pandaran etc. They are seen in all districts southern to Thrissur District of Kerala. Their mother tongue is Malayalam. They are included under Other Backward Communities. They are non-vegeterians. Their type of family is nuclear. They are endogamous at the community level. Their traditional occupation is the manufacturing of pappadams (circular wafers which are to be fried in oil and served along with meals). Many are engaged in this business. Some of them earn their livelihood from agricultural labour and a few, who have land, are settled cultivators. They believe in Hinduism and their deity is Mariamman They observe post delivery pollution for 28 days. On 28th day they perform mundan ceremony. Naming ceremony is also held on the day. Monogamy is the common form of marriage. Before the marriage they use to perform special pooja of the thali to be tied around the neck of bride by the bridegroom.  This ritual is known as managlya pooja.   They bury their dead.

Pandithar is a migrant community from Tamil Nadu. Traditionally, they are barbers. Recently they changed their title as Nair and like to be known as Nairs. It is also believed that they are the followers of Buddha. Their mother tongue is Tamil, but they transact with local people in Malayalam.  and worship all Hindu gods.

They observe pulikudy on the seventh month of pregnancy. Post delivery pollution lasts for 15 days. On the 28th day, they perform irupathyettukettu. Therandukalyanam is observed on the first menarche of girls. Marriage functions are held in the bride’s residence. Tying of thali is the important function of the marriage.  They either bury or cremate their dead. Death pollution (pula) lasts for 16 days.

The word parayan is derived from the word para, which means a drum. In ancient days, when there was no caste system prevailing, they were the drummers on occasions like marriage, festival, funeral etc.  The word parayan also means an outcaste from every caste. The Parayan believes that they are the descendants of Brahmins. According to the legend, Vararuchi, a famous Brahmin astrologer and the King of Avanthi, happened to marry a Paraya (a untouchable community) girl (Parayi) without knowing the truth. When he realised, he went on pilgrimage with his wife to attain salvation for being married a girl belonging to a polluted community. On their pilgrimage they reached Kerala also and the girl gave birth to twelve children. Different communities in Kerala adopted all these children except one. (These communities are known as Parayipetta Pantheeru Kulam – twelve gotras derived from Parayi). One of them was Pakkanar, who is said to be the ancestor of Parayan. Parayan is also known as Sambavar.A Sala Sambavan was turned as a Parayan as cursed by

God Siva and the Parayan are the descendants of this Sambavan. Their mother tongue is Malayalam. They have also their own dialect known as orulappa, which is not in use now. They are non-vegetarians. Their occupation is making baskets, mats and umbrellas using bamboo and reeds. They also engaged in agricultural labour and daily waged labour. They belong to Hindu religion. Parayankoothu, Chavittykkali, Theyyatt, Bhoothamthullal, Vettikkali are some of their folk art forms.

They observe pre delivery rituals and post delivery pollution continues for 15 days. Naming ceremony and choroonu is held on the sixth month.  They celebrate puberty rites. Marriage ceremonies are held at the bride’s residence. Tying of thali and presentation of pudava to the bride are the main rituals. On reaching the bridegroom’s house they have to lift one of the two covered vessels, one filled with flower and rice and the other with water. If the bridegroom takes the vessel containing rice and flower and bride lifts the vessel with water, it is believed that they lead a happy married life. Otherwise, they believe it as a bad omen. They bury their dead. On return from the graveyard, the chief mourner brings some mud from the grave and out of the mud they makes an image. Then they sing songs in memory of the deceased for the whole night. It is believed that in doing so, the departed soul attains moksha (salvation). They observe Death pollution (Pula) for 15 days. 

The Pathiyan are also known as Wayanadan Pathiyan as they are seen only in Wayanad District. They are grouped under Other Eligible Community in Kerala. Their traditional occupation is agriculture. They belong to Hindu religion. They worship Kali, Shiva and Vishnu. Narippattu, Mankali, Kaikottykkali, Vattakkali, Vellattu, Thira are their folk art forms.   

The Pattariya community is a migrated community from Kanchipuram of Tamil Nadu consequent on a quarrel between them and the King of Kanchipuram long ago. The word pattariya derive from pattusalia, which means weavers of silk. They are concentrated in Alappuzha, Ernakulam and Thrissur Districts. They speak and write in Malayalam. . They are grouped under Other Backward Classes. They are non-vegetarians. They maintain nuclear type of family. Traditionally they are weavers of silk. Now they weave cotton and engaged in agriculture and other professions. 

They observe pulikudy on the seventh month of pregnancy. Birth pollution is for 28 days and on 28th day they perform irupathyettukettu and naming ceremony. They perform puberty ceremony (therandukuly/therandukalyanam).  Elders arrange marriage. Thali tying is the important part of marriage. They cremate their dead. Sanchayanam is held on 5th day of cremation. Death pollution (Pula) is for 16 days.

PISHARADI

The Pisharadi belongs to Ambalavasy community. It is said that the Pisharadi are descendants of Brahmins. They are mainly inhabited in Kozhikode, Palakkad, Thrissur, Kottayam and Thiruvananthapuram districts. Their mother tongue is Malayalam. They belong to forward class. They believe in Hinduism. They are pure vegetarians. In the past, they followed marumakkathayam, but now they follow nuclear type of families. Traditionally they were dependents and employees of temples.  Only a very few are now occupied in temples and many are engaged in other professions.

The Pisharadi observe birth pollution for 12 days. Choroonu and namakarana ceremonies are held after six months of birth. In the past they celebrate thalikettukalyanam, which has been abolished. They observe therandukalyanam. Marriage is held at the bride’s residence. The bridegroom ties thali around the bride’s neck and maternal uncle gives the bride’s hand to bridegroom (panigrahana). When a Pisharady is dead, the dead body is placed in a sitting posture. A pit of four feet depth and two feet width is dug in the south- eastern part of the compound and body is placed in the same posture. Then the pit is filled with salt and mud alternately. When the pit is completely filled up, a thulsi plant is planted in the centre of the pit. The Death pollution (Pula) lasts for 11 days.

The Pothuval is an Ambalavasy community.  The name of community derived from two Malayalam words viz., pothu (means common) and aal (means a person). So Pothuval means a common man who looks after the common dealings of a temple. They are mainly concentrated in Kannur, Palakkad, Thrissur and Ernakulam districts. They are pure vegetarians. Their mother tongue is Malayalam. They followed marumakkathayam in the past. Now makkathayam is the rule of inheritance. . Their traditional occupation is temple service. But now they are engaged in almost all professions and business.

They observe birth pollution for 12 days. They perform thernadukuli (vassariyikkal) when girls attain maturity. In the past pre-puberty marriage (kettukalyanam) was celebrated; but it was abolished. Pothuval marriage is known as Kalyanam or Vivaham. It is conducted in bride’s residence or in temples. Thali tying, exchange of rings, floral garlands etc are the important rituals of marriage. They cremate the dead. Death pollution (Pula) continues for 11 days.

The word Pulayan derived from the term pula, which means pollution. It is also said that the name of the community originated from pulam, which means field and those who were working in the field are known as Pulayan.  Another version is that the God Siva gave the right to the ancestors of Pulayan to clear forestland and to cultivate. They were once a powerful community. Pulayanarkottah, a place at Thiruvananthapuram is said to have been the capital of Pulaya King.  It was a Pulaya woman who found the idol of the Sree Padmanabha Temple of Thrivananthapuram.   Aikkara Yajamanan was one of Pulaya Kings of north Travancore. They are also known as Cheramans. They claimed before the Maharajah of erstwhile Travancore that they were the successors of Cheraman Perumal, who ruled the country for a long time, and therefore, they should be known as Cheramans.The Government approved their claim and then onwards they are known as Cheramans

.In erstwhile Malabar area, they are known as Cheruman.  On account of Aryan invasion and other invaders, the power of Pulaya weakened and lost their ownership in land. In the course of time they became slaves of upper class. They are distributed throughout Kerala. They believe in Hinduism. They follow makkathayam system of inheritance. They are grouped under the Scheduled Caste. They have nuclear families. They are non-vegetarians. Their traditional occupation is agricultural labour. A very few possess cultivable land. Others depend on landowners of other communities.  After the Land Reforms Act, many have been allotted small area of land just sufficient to build a small house or hut. 

Kolkali, Thalayattom, Bhoothamthullal, Mudiyattom, Vettikkali are their folk art form. They perform a ritual known as Arangattu to make eligible a Pulaya boy as an agricultural labour.
 
They observed Pulikudy in the past, which is not in vogue. Birth pollution is for 16 days. Naming ceremony is held on the 28th day. In olden days, the landlord was the authority to name the newborn baby. They observe therandukalyanam as a simple ritual. In north Malabar area, they fix the auspicious date and time of marriage and the ritual is known as Kanjikudymangalyam. This ritual gives right to bridegroom to visit the bride’s residence before marriage is held. The marriage Marriage is celebrated in bride’s house. The bridegroom ties thali on the neck of bride. He also presents a bronze ring to the bride. In olden days, they have to obtain permission from their landlord to get married. They bury their dead. Death pollution (Pula) lasts for 16 days. They perform ancestral worship known as Kattichatham.

There are differences of opinion regarding the origin of the community’s name. Some say that it is derived from pullu, a hawk. Some others say that it is derived from the Malayalam word pullu, which means grass. According to a legend, God Brahma created the ancestor of Pulluvan with certain grasses (pullu) on the request of Parasurama, who created Kerala, for the conduct of snake worship.  Since he was created with pullu (grass), he was called Pulluvar. The Pulluvar are the singers of Sarppampattu in connection with the worship of snakes in Kerala. They are seen in almost all districts of Kerala with limited number. They are non-vegetarians. Nuclear families are found in the community.They follow patrilineal (makkathayam) system of inheritance. Their community deities are Nagaraja (God) and Nagayakshi (Goddess).They offer special poojas on the first day of

every month and on the Ayilyam day (star) to the Nagaraja and Nagayakshi. The Mannarassala Temple of Kerala is famous for Naga (serpent) worship. The traditional occupation of Pulluvar is singing pulluvanppattu or sarppamppattu. Both the Pulluvan (male member) and Pulluvathy (female member) participate. Pulluvan plays pulluvaveena (a kind of string instrument) while Pulluvathy plays pulluvakudam (drum made of earthen pot), two musical instruments played exclusively by Pulluvar in connection with Sarppam pattu (snake worship). The origin of snake worship was from Jaina religion, it is believed.  Pulluvan also visit houses and sing Navoruppattu for the welfare of the children of the house.

They perform pulukudy at the seventh month of pregnancy. Birth pollution continues for 16 days. They celebrate irupathyettukettu on the 28th day of birth.  Choroonu is held after six months. They observe therendukalyanam when girls attain puberty. They marry within the community and monogamy is the form of marriage. Marriage is held at the bride’s residence.   They either bury or cremate their dead.  Death pollution (Pula) lasts for 16 days.

PUSHPAKAN

The Pushpakan are also called Pushpakanunni and Nambeesan.  and belong to Ambalavasi community. Among the Ambalavasis, they are as considered higher than otherAmbalavasis. They used to wear Poonool (sacred thread) like Namboothiris.  Pushpakanunni is a combination of words pushapa (flower) and unni (child). According to legend, Parasurama set apart them from Brahmins and assigned the occupation of making floral garlands for temples.  They are inhabited in Thiruvananthapuram, Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Thrissur and Kozhikode Districts.  Their mother tongue is Malayalam. They are vegetarians. They follow patrilineal (makkathayam) system of inheritance.

They follow life cycle rituals in accordance with shodashacharangal. They observe seemantham, jathakarma, annaprasanam, upnayanam, ritukalyanam (puberty rite) etc. Marriage ceremonies are performed in bride’s residence. Thali tying, lajahomam, saptapathi, panigrahanam are the rituals connected with the marriage. They cremate their dead and Death pollution (Pula) lasts for 11 days.