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One of the principal Hindu castes of Kerala is that of the Nairs, among two of the
country's only societies that follow a matriarchal system that has brought women into social prominence. Kerala's Brahmins, the Namboodris, till recently had a system in which only the eldest son could marry within
the same cast, Since the others had to find wives outside the community, they were disowned from family rights. These are now traditions of the past. ;
But it is not only the Hindus that make up the colourful mosaic of this land . The Jews, for example, came to Kerala when they
fled the rule of Nebuchdnezzar in 587 BC; St.Thomas the Apostle came here in the first century AD; the Syrian Christians were in existence here in the 2nd century AD; One of the oldest Christian churches exists in
Cranganoore dating back to 400 AD.
All these faiths have existed in complete harmony in Kerala. Today there are temples and mosques, churches and synagogues; they
form the cohesive warp and weft that has gone into the making of the fabric of Kerala.
When the Portuguese came to Kerala, they found a thriving Christian community here, but one that never heard of the
Pope.
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