Velama
Caste found mainly in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Velama is an upper caste[1] found mainly in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The earliest recorded use of the term "Velama" to refer to a community dates back to the 11th century.[2] In the caste-based hierarchy, they hold a high position alongside the Reddy, Kapu/Telaga and Kamma castes. In Telangana, they are referred to as "Dora" (Lord) by other castes, a term that signifies a high level of respect. The modern Velama community is divided into four distinct categories: Padmanayaka Velama, Adi Velama, Koppula Velama, and Polinati Velama. Although these groups are separate, they share a common social identity and are unified under the Velama community.