What is "karaiyar"

Karaiyar is a caste found in the Tamil Nadu state in India, northern coastal areas in Sri Lanka, and globally among the Tamil diaspora. Traditionally, they were a fishing community, also engaged in seafaring and military activities.

Historically, they have also been referred to as Karayar, Karaiyaar, Kurukulam and Karaiyaalan. The Karaiyars are the Tamil equivalent of the Sinhalese Karava.