Pulayar

The Pulayar pulɐjɐr (also Pulaya, Pulayas, Cherumar, Cheramar, and Cheraman) is a caste group mostly found in the southern part of India, forming one of the main social groups in modern-day Kerala, Karnataka and historically in Tamil Nadu. 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. 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. Nandanar, a Nayanar saint, venerated in the Hindu sect of Shaivism Ayyankali (1863–1941), social reformer K. P. Vallon (1894–1940), social reformer P. K. Rosy (1903–1988), first heroine of the Malayalam film industry Dakshayani Velayudhan (1912–1978), former member of the Constituent Assembly Punnala Sreekumar, general secretary of Kerala Pulayar Maha Sabha (KPMS) K. G. Balakrishnan, 37th Chief Justice of India C. T.