The ceremony must be performed at the house of the girl's family. Her father's consent is necessary, but his presence is not essential at this or the two subsequent ceremonies in connection with the marriage. The Tandan, it may be noted, is the caste governmental head in all matters affecting his own caste and the artisans. He is a Tiyan, and his office, which is authorised by the local Rajah, or rather by his senior Rani, is hereditary. In exceptional cases, however, the hereditary right may be interrupted by the Rani appointing some one else. The Tandan of the tara is required to assist at every ceremony connected with marriage, at the ceremony when a girl attains puberty, at that of tying the tali, and at the fifth and seventh months of pregnancy. His formal permission is required before the carpenter can cut down the areca palm, with which the little shed in which the tali is tied is constructed. In cases of divorce, his functions are important. When a new house is built, there must be a house-warming ceremony, at which the Tandan officiates. Fowls are sacrificed, and the right leg is the Tandan's perquisite. He is a man of importance, not only in many affairs within his own caste, but also in those of other castes. Thus, when a Nayar dies, it is the Tandan's duty to get the body burnt. He controls the washerman and barber of the tara, and can withdraw their services when they are most needed. He officiates, moreover, at marriages of the artisan class--carpenters, braziers, goldsmiths and blacksmiths. A group of taras forms what is called a desam, the koyma or "sovereignty" of which is represented by a Nayar tarwad. It is through the head or Karnavan (really the chieftain) of this tarwad that the Tandan approaches the Raja in matters of appeal, and the like. The Tandan is to some extent under his guidance and control, but he must provide the Tandan with a body-guard of two Nayars on occasions of marriages. In the old days, it may be mentioned, the Tandans of the taras within the rule of the Zamorin were always appointed by his senior Rani. The term Tandan must not be confounded with the Tandars, a people of the Palghat taluk, who appear to be allied to the Izhuvans. These Tandars observe the custom of paternal polyandry, while the Izhuvans abhor it.