Pattusali

Pattusali(also Pattushali or PathaSali) is a regional name referring Saurashtra, a Kannada and Telugu weavers social group found largely in the Indian states of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, particularly in Keralapura, Hassan, Mysore, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Srikakulam, Vizag, Vijayanagaram, Godavari, Prakasam and Anantapur Districts. They are identified by different names in various regions throughout India.

Major centers of the Pattusali population are Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat, Chennai, Malaysia, Mayiladuthurai, Ayyampet, Patteswaram and Pondicherry.

Origin

"Saali" means "spider" in Telugu. This word was applied to weavers, probably comparing weaving to the spider's web. In Tamil, the word is Saalikan or Saaliyan. In Kannada, it's Shaaliga or Shaaliya. In Malayalam, it is Chaaliyan. "Pattu" is the Tamil word for "silk." The weaving community that specialized in silk weaving might have become a separate segment and community. Oral history also says that the Pattusali community is also called Saurashtra Brahmins. People have migrated from Saurashtra in Gujarat and settled down in various states like Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Chennai, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal.

For more information visit: http://www.pattusali.org

Practices

Food habits of the caste differ from region to region. Most follow a vegetarian diet. Pattusali people originating from Andhra Pradesh also settled in Orissa, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

Most of the community is Hindu and Vaishnava. There is a significant proportion of Shivites as well. Community temples in Chirala and Dharmavaram are known for their Vaishnava celebrations each year, which are deemed town events.