Castes and Tribes of Southern India. Vol. 7 of 7

part in the celebration of the annual festival of the village goddess,

and receives a sacred thread (kappu), which is usually tied to his mandoline, before the commencement of the festival. He regards himself as superior in social position to ordinary Madigas, with whom he will not marry. The name Vayani is said to be a corruption of varnane, meaning to describe. In some localities,...