Kongu Vellalar

[2][3][4] Interestingly the Gandadikara Vokkaligas of the neighbouring parts of Karnataka also claim origin from the banks of the Ganges.

[7] From the early Sangam period, the Kongu region had always been a "frontier zone," only loosely controlled by the various Tamil dynasties from the plains.

Due to their isolation, the people of this region had always been most associated with muscle power and the "heroic" ideals of the Sangam age.

However, by the 11th century CE, the influence of the Bhakti movement and Brahminical values from the plains largely displaced the Sangam traditions.

Their technological advancement allowed them to generally outcompete the earlier inhabitants in land ownership and agricultural production.

However, eventually this period of ethnogenesis would end in the creation of a hierarchical structure with Kongu Vellalars at the top.

[10] According to Beck's (1972) study, the Kongu Vellalar are one of the top ranking castes who were entitled to ownership over land.

They followed a kingly model acquiring prestige by ownership of land, control of daily labor and production activity.

Gounders traditionally controlled most of the land in western Tamil Nadu, and had the Arunthathiyar community as labourers.

The community plays a significant role in the political and economic life of the Kongu Nadu region.

[18] The engagement ceremony takes place at the bride's house, with the maternal uncles of both groom and birde present, where fruit and betel leaf are tied in the girl's clothes.

[19] Then he and the barber sing a long song composed by poet-saint Kambar, called "Mangala Valthu", speaking of the glory of marriage.