Kannadigas in Kochi is a small community that migrated into the city from the Kasargode district of Kerala which shares borders with Karnataka. Most of them has the surname Hegde, which literally mean chieftain of the fort, suggesting that their predecessors belonged to a warrior clan. There are no written records about their migration. But what the community members suggest is that their forefathers came from the northern district of Kerala bordering Karnataka mostly during the Second World War period in search of career opportunities. There are approximately 60 Kannadiga families living in the area presently. The families are scattered across two different settlements in Mattancherry which is centered on the temple. They do maintain their cultural identity especially in their food and festivals. Kannada is the home and community language. However, the younger generations can’t read or write Kannada, but only speak.
