Paravas
| Paravar | |
|---|---|
| Religions | Roman Catholicism, Hinduism |
| Languages | Tamil, Malayalam, English, Sinhalese, other Indian languages |
| Related groups | Tamil people |
Parava or Paravar, also known as Parathavar, Paradavar, Bharathar, Bharathakula Pandyar or Bharathakula Kshathriyar is a caste in southern India that in ancient times were coastal inhabitants, seafarers, maritime traders and subordinate rulers to Pandyas, as well as according to at least one modern writer, described as "ferocious soldiers". There are many theories as to their origins but they have since ancient times been recorded in the area of Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
In modern India, Paravars are concentrated along the coastal belt extending around the Gulf of Mannar, from Kilakarai through to Kanyakumari (Cape Comorin) and then on almost as far as Trivandrum. and their 60 or so villages are solely occupied by caste members and are interspersed with villages occupied by Muslims. There are also Paravar settlements on the outskirts of inland villages, and there has been a significant number among the population of Tuticorin, a major town, since the 1580s.
Paravar (known as Bharathas in Sri Lanka) are also found in significant numbers in Sri Lanka, especially in Negombo and also in and around the capital Colombo. They are an official gazette-notified separate ethnic community in Sri Lanka. In the present day, Bharathas are a socially and economically active, prosperous trading community in Sri Lanka
From the earliest recorded times the Paravars were fishers,seamen and maritime traders specialising in seasonal harvesting of pearl oysters and chank, both of which were significant exports from southern India by the first century AD. (The pearl diving season usually lasted 20 – 30 days, around March). The community was also involved in sea salt production, which was a relatively easy task on the Indian coast as the hot temperatures evaporated the water without the need for firewood. Diving for pearls and chank, as well as fishing, were thought of as being "low and ritually polluting occupations."
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