Kainokku or palmistry, in which the women are more proficient than the men. Kompuvaippu, or placing the twig of a plant on any swelling of the body, and dissipating it by blowing on it. Taiyyal, or tailoring. Pampatam or snake dance, in which the Kakkalans are unrivalled. Fortune telling. The chief object of worship by the Kakkalans is the rising sun, to which boiled rice is offered on Sunday. They have no temples of their own, but stand at some distance from Hindu temples, and worship the gods thereof. Though leading a wandering life, they try to be at home for the Malabar new year, on which occasion they wear new clothes, and hold a feast. They do not observe the national Onam and Vishu festivals. The Kakkalans are conspicuously polygamous, and some have as many as twelve wives, who are easily supported, as they earn money by their professional engagements. A first marriage must be celebrated on Sunday, and the festivities last from Saturday to Monday. Subsequent marriages may also be celebrated on Thursday. On the night of the day before the wedding, a brother, or other near relation of the bridegroom, places the sambandham (alliance) by bringing a fanam (coin), material for chewing, and cooked rice to the marriage pandal (booth). Fruit and other things are flung at him by the bride's people. On the following day the bridegroom arrives at the pandal, and, after raising the tali (marriage badge) three times towards heaven, and, invoking a blessing from on high, ties it round the bride's neck. When a girl reaches puberty, a merry celebration is kept up for a week. The dead are buried. Inheritance is from father to son. A childless widow is a coparcener with the brothers of the deceased, and forfeits this right if she remarries. Though in the presence of other castes the Kakkalans speak Malayalam, they have a peculiar language which is used among themselves, and is not understood by others. [28] Kakke (Indian laburnum: Cassia fistula).--A gotra of Kurni. Kala.--Recorded, in the Travancore Census Report, 1901, as a sub-division of Nayar. Kalaikuttadi (pole-dancer).--A Tamil synonym of Dommara. Kalal.--A Hindustani synonym of Gamalla. Kalamkotti (potter).--An occupational title of Nayar. Kalasi.--A name given to Vada fishermen by Oriya people. Kalava (channel or ditch).--An exogamous sept of Padma Sale. Kalavant.--The Kalavants are dancers and singers, who, like other dancing-girls, are courtesans. The name occurs not only in South Canara, but also in the Telugu country.