Devanga

Primarily based in the southern regions of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, the Devanga community is known for its super-fine cotton textiles. Members of this caste claim to have descended from the sage, Devala. In Hindu mythology, Devala Maharishi was supposedly the first to weave cotton cloth and present it to Lord Shiva. A part of the community that lives in Chhattisgarh is also said to have originally woven various textiles from Kosa silk, now mostly made in Champa.

Traditionally, men are engaged in weaving while women are involved in dyeing yarn and spinning thread. Their weaves are mainly used by lower-caste communities and the tribes of the region.