They speak Kaikadi, a Dravidian language closely related to Tamil with significant Indo-Aryan admixture.
[5] Colonial scholars claimed the community arrived from Telangana, and they were related to the Yerukala.
They touch supposedly "polluted" communities above the Kunbi in the caste hierarchy, and they are barred from entering village temples, although they can live inside.
The Kaikadis mainly worship Nagas, mainly on Nag Panchami, but also pay reverence to Khandoba.
They also have a set of exogamous clans: Gadge, Gaikwad, Patke, Mule, Makadwale, Shamdire [7] and Mane.