Pulluvan

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A Pulluvan is a member of a primitive Dravidian group. The term pullu means a bird of omen. The term pulluvan must have meant ‘a person who predicts from the sound of birds’. There are many sub-divisions within the Pulluva community. The majority among them are called Nagampatikal (People who sing snake-songs). There are pulluvars who are not Naagampatikal, as well. They are known as Pretampatikal (People who sing ghost songs). Ritually, they are the conductors of Sarpam Thullal.

Most of the art forms of the Pulluvar are ritualistic. Most of their songs are related to worship, ritual, custom and exorcism. The pulluva art is expressed in the background of snake-worship, ghost worship and magic.

The pulluvar of Kerala are closely connected to the serpent worship. One group among these people consider the snake gods as their presiding deity and perform certain sacrifices and sing songs. This is called ’Pulluvan Paattu’. This is performed in the houses of the lower castes as well as those of the higher castes, in addition to serpent temples.