Moothan

Moothans are a community in Palakkad district of Kerala state who primarily engage in trade. The majority of the community is spread in the Moothanthara region of Palakkad town. Moothans are known in Palakkad under caste names like Moothan and its sub-castes like Guptan and similar castes like Mannadiar and Tharakan.

Culture

Moothans follow a mixture of Tamil-Malayali traditions. They celebrate the important festivals of Kerala and few Tamil festivals like Pongal, Thaipooyam, Kavadiyattam. They are worshipers of Kannaki and Muruga and visit the famous Pazhani temple of Tamil Nadu undertaking a journey by foot carrying their Kavadi.

Language

Moothans mother tongue is Malayalam and many manage to speak in Tamil as well.

Social Titles

The Mannadiar title is also used by Moothans of Palakkad and Koduvayoor. To address Tharakans also the Mannadiar title is used. In Palakkad, Moothans are respectably called Mannattappan, Aandaar for males, Mannattamma, Andaramma for females.

The usage of the title Aandar is a mute pointer and relationship of Moothans communities deep-rooted faith towards Muruga (called Aandavan, Aandar). Moothans Kavadi Pooja is one of the unique festivals celebrated in Palakkad connected with Muruga.

House - Mannattu

Mannattu is the name generally used for calling houses of Moothans just like Illiams and Manas of Nampoothiris.

Business and education

Palakkad Angadi (market) is a privileged portion alloted to Moothan community by the Rajas (Naduvazhis) of Palakkattussery and it relates back to the Zamorin's period of around 14 - 15 AD.^{[citation needed][1]}

In 1972-73 5,500 Moothans were distributed in 731 households, of these 451 households are settled in same ward separated from other castes and communities. There are 48 jewellery shops in Palakkad town and 36 of these are owned by Moothans,^[2] 164 vegetable shopkeepers, which include wholesale, retail and hawkers, 77.4 percent are Moothans and 15.9 % Muslims and rest belong to five other groups.^{[citation needed]}

Moothan business profession is transmitted in the form of inheritance and it is carried out in a well socially knitted pattern. This is one of the reasons for their success in the business arena. Changes in the business scenarios has really challenged the traditional localized business setups of Moothans. Educating the children to its highest level is the modern trend of the society. Every year more and more professionals are born out from the community. Few were taking up the task of finding out new business setups or the revival of the existing ones. Rest of them is migrating to the areas of profession, widely traveling in India and far abroad. Few educated hold and sticks to their traditional business with passion and pride.

The modern generation is now getting well educated and holding good positions in many private and government sectors.

Location

Basic settlements as family groups and tharavads are spread across in the areas like Moothanthara – palakkad – kavilpad - olavakkode town circle,kalpathy,nelliserry,pallipuram,noorani agraharams, koduvayoor,mannathukavu, ethanoor,thenkurissi. And other aryavaisya casts in kongad,pulapatta, katampazhipuram,alangad, punchapadam,mannampatta, mangalamkunnu, sreekrishnapuram, thiruvayzhiyode,vellinezhy, maangod, chethaloor,kalladikode, Thachampara mannarkkad, edathanattukara and very few families were found to be settled in Vyanad District

Temple

The unique and famous goddess Kannaki Temple and Visalakshi Sametha Siva Temple is situated in the Palakkad Town Area, Moothanthara.

References

1. ^ In the book From bazaar economy to industrial economy - Thurston
2. ^ chacko 1983

External links

• www.moothan.com