Katesar

Katesar (also known as Pattamkatti or Nittarasan) is a Tamil caste found in Tamil Nadu of India. They are traditionally involved in basket weaving, fishing and lime burning. They are chiefly found in the districts of Ramanathapuram, rameswaram Thirunelveli and Tiruchirappalli of Tamil Nadu.^[1]

They are Chauhans.

History[]

There have been stone carvings and copper plates that mention the Pattamkattiyars. These are found in big temple, tanjavur and in other places. A stone bearing the name of a person called "Perumal Patamkatti" dating 900 AD was found in Kanyakumari.^{[citation needed]}

They have seven exogamous sub-divisions known as Keelai. In the war between the Idangai and Valangai, the Katesars sided with the Kammalar who belonged to the Idangais. The Katesans lost the battle with only seven men standing. Each men took wife from different castes and thereby forming a subdivision. The following subdivisions are Kuttini (from a Kusuvar woman), Nēttali (from a Paravar woman), Attukkutti (from an Idaiyar woman), Thomba Puluvan (from a Thomban woman), Nayinan Chakravarthi (from a Panar woman), Kavadi (from a Shanar woman), and Tachilai (from a Vannar woman).^[2]

In the Katesar society, the maternal uncle's responsibility is more than the parents' responsibility.^{[citation needed]}

Some of the Katesar of Tirunelveli, Ramanad and Tuticorin were converted by St. Francis Xavier and other priests starting from 1536.^{[citation needed]}

Their mangalsutra/thali worn during marriage are similar to Pillai. Their marriage customs find similarity with Brahmins and Pillais. With the passing of time, the Pattamkattiyars separated themselves from rest of the Pandiyan community and they formed an individual caste with their own customs.^{[citation needed]}

See also[]

• Kadaiyar

References[]