Pulayar

The Pulayar (also Pulaya, Pulayas, Cherumar, Cheramar, and Cheraman) is a caste group mostly found in modern-day Indian states of Kerala, Karnataka and historically in Tamil Nadu. They are a 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

 * 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. Ravikumar, judge of the Supreme Court of India
 * Kodikunnel Suresh, member of Parliament
 * Chittayam Gopakumar, deputy speaker of 14th Kerala legislative assembly
 * Dharmajan Bolgatty, Indian actor