Pattamkattiyar or Pattangkattiar is a small caste in the Tirunelveli and Tuticorin district of Tamil Nadu, India. They are called Katesar Pattamkattiyars of Tirunelveli and they are not a subcaste but a caste itself duly approved by government of India.
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They have seven sub-divisions known as Keelai. People in the same Kelai do not get married.
In the Pattamkattiyar society, the maternal uncle's responsibility is more than the parents' responsibility.
Some of the Pattamkattiyars of Tirunelveli, Ramanad and Tuticorin were converted by St. Francis Xavier and other priests starting from 1536.
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.
Katesar Pattamkattiyar
Katesar is a shortened form of the word 'Karaiyar Arasar', which means kings of coastal inhabitants. This term is mentioned by many Portuguese historians as 'kings of carears' in their letters. These people were considered the superior among the pattamkattiyars and they were also kings and noble men until the 1790s. These people were kings and headsmen of the fishery coast of Tuticorin and also Tirunelveli. These people have seven subcastes among them.
History and pattamkattiyars
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.