Kokkadichcholai
Encyclopedia
Kokkadichcholai is a village in Batticaloa District
within the Eastern Province
of Sri Lanka
.
across from the lagoon
that separates the Batticaloa district's hinterland from the populated coastal area. The general area consists of three villages, one is known as Mahiladitivu and the other Mudalaikudah (Crocodile bay) and the main hamlet of Kokkadichcholai. Although Kokkadichcholai is a collective name for the three hamlets, the name refers to the main hamlet in local parlance. The area is known for its famous Batticaloa curd
in Sri Lanka.
caste
- mainly farmers, followed by service castes such as dhobys, barbers and others. There is a notion of a self contained autonomous system of villages, presided over by the Ur-Podiyar, elected from among the Podiyars or village leaders, the role of the Ur Podiyar is considered more ceremonial than coercive. Podiyars in practice were the large landowners. It has become common for people of the area to prefix their name with Podiyar. Most are Hindus with some Christians amongst them.
Batticaloa District
Batticaloa district is one of the 25 administrative districts of Sri Lanka. The district is administered by a District Secretariat headed by a District Secretary appointed by the central government of Sri Lanka. The headquarters is located in Batticaloa town...
within the Eastern Province
Eastern Province, Sri Lanka
The Eastern Province is one of the 9 provinces of Sri Lanka. The provinces have existed since the 19th century but they didn't have any legal status until 1987 when the 13th Amendment to the 1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka established provincial councils. Between 1988 and 2006 the province was...
of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
.
Geography
It is located west of the provincial town of BatticaloaBatticaloa
Batticaloa is a city in the Eastern province of Sri Lanka. It is the seat of the Eastern University of Sri Lanka. It is on the east coast, south by south east of Trincomalee, and is situated on an island.-Etymology:...
across from the lagoon
Batticaloa Lagoon
Batticaloa Lagoon is a very large estuarine lagoon in Batticaloa District, eastern Sri Lanka. The city of Batticaloa is located on land between the lagoon and the Indian Ocean.Batticaloa district is flourished with three lagoons, such Batticaloa lagoon, Valaichchenai Lagoon and Vakari Lagoon. Among...
that separates the Batticaloa district's hinterland from the populated coastal area. The general area consists of three villages, one is known as Mahiladitivu and the other Mudalaikudah (Crocodile bay) and the main hamlet of Kokkadichcholai. Although Kokkadichcholai is a collective name for the three hamlets, the name refers to the main hamlet in local parlance. The area is known for its famous Batticaloa curd
Curd
Curds are a dairy product obtained by curdling milk with rennet or an edible acidic substance such as lemon juice or vinegar, and then draining off the liquid portion. The increased acidity causes the milk proteins to tangle into solid masses, or curds. The remaining liquid, which contains only...
in Sri Lanka.
Demography
The dominant group is the MukkuvarMukkuvar
Mukkuvar also Mukkuva are a social group or caste primarily a fishing community, living in the coastal districts of Kerala, south Tamil Nadu in India and also in Sri Lanka. It is a community that has differing ethnic identities based on the state or country of domicile...
caste
Caste
Caste is an elaborate and complex social system that combines elements of endogamy, occupation, culture, social class, tribal affiliation and political power. It should not be confused with race or social class, e.g. members of different castes in one society may belong to the same race, as in India...
- mainly farmers, followed by service castes such as dhobys, barbers and others. There is a notion of a self contained autonomous system of villages, presided over by the Ur-Podiyar, elected from among the Podiyars or village leaders, the role of the Ur Podiyar is considered more ceremonial than coercive. Podiyars in practice were the large landowners. It has become common for people of the area to prefix their name with Podiyar. Most are Hindus with some Christians amongst them.