The Velan (or Velar) are a scheduled caste who live mainly in Kerala. They speak, read and write in Malayalam. They are not vegetarians who eat beef and pork and eat rice as a cereal.

The Velan have cross-cousin marriages. The women help in agriculture, social and religious matters. They also look after finances.

Marriages include a dowry. They have birth and marriage rituals. The dead are cremated. Those that live in the north continue with their tradition of making pots. They have a caste council to look after them. They are landowners.

They are traditionally washers of clothes and harvesting coconuts. They also work in breeding animals, in businesses, in industry and for the government.

The Velan are Hindus by religion and have festivals. They are generally well educated and they educate both boys and girls.

Some of the Velan live in Tamil Nadu. In Tamil Nadu the Velar make pots. Sons inherit the property on the death of the father with the oldest son becoming in charge of the home. Divorce and marrying again are not allowed. They speak, read and write in Tamil. Elders judge in disagreements. They use family planning and modern medicines too.

* Pray that Indian Christians will lead them to Jesus Christ.
* Pray that gospel materials and the internet will lead them to salvation.

Singh, K. S., ed. "India's Communities A-Z", Oxford University Press, USA 1999