Introduction / History
The Vellala or Vellalar live in India and Sri Lanka. In Sri Lanka they are part of the Tamils and they migrated from Tamil Nadu in India. In India, the Vellala are mostly in rural regions. They eat rice as their main cereal. They are cultivators by tradition and Hinduism is their religion.

In Tamil Nadu, the Vellala speak, read and write in Tamil. There are vegetarians and non-vegetarians among them. They are endogamous, meaning they prefer marriage with a member of their group. Cross-cousin marriages are favored. Widowers can marry again but not widows and divorcees. The oldest son becomes in charge of the home by inheritance. Marriages are arranged at the home of the bridegroom. The deceased are buried or cremated. The Vellala are landlords and work in agriculture. Some are in professional work. They educate their children and use modern and traditional medicines and do family planning.

In Kerala, the Vellala here migrated from Tamil Nadu. They are similar to those in Tamil Nadu but they read and write in Malayalam as well as in Tamil. They are vegetarians. Divorcees can marry again. Marriage is at the home of the bride. The dead are cremated. They work in agriculture in rural regions and in business in urban ones.

Prayer Points
Pray that God will give the Vellala dreams and visions bringing them to Salvation.
Pray that gospel materials will bring them to Jesus Christ.

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