It was used by the Tamil people in ancient battles, for protecting cattle from predators, and for hunting.
[2] Kallar favourite weapon is the Valaithadi or a curved, short and thick stick, like the boomerang.
Weapons similar to this were also called Valaithadi, Tigiri, Paravallai, Cuḻalpaṭai, Kallartadi and Pataivattam.
[citation needed] The techniques and philosophies of valari are long periods of interaction with Tamil (India) peoples, cultures, and Traditional Arts.
Valari received international exposure from 2018 onwards, demonstrated and played in various states of India.
[citation needed] It was used for wars and hunting by the Kallar and Maravar clans of Tamil Nadu.
In The Hindu article 'The deadly weapon that exemplified Tamil spirit' dated 3 June 2016 Madurai MP Su.Venkatesan says, "It is said that there were experts in the art of throwing the valari who could at one stroke despatch small game and even man.
But now it reposes peacefully in the households of the descendants of Kallar and Maravar warriors who plied it with such deadly effect."
British archaeologist Robert Bruce Foote had recalled the old saying “send the valari and bring the bride".