The coastal regions of Karnataka and Kerala had a very active martial-arts tradition, and many Billava families still continue this tradition. This helped them develop a community identity. They built Garadis similar to Kalaris in Kerala in honour of their folk heroes Koti and Chennayya. The Tulu term Garadi is derived from the Kannada word Garodi, which means "gymnasium". These garadis became major religious and martial-arts centres of the Billavas throughout the coastal areas of Karnataka. Though this tradition was common to their equivalent caste in Kerala, due to rigid caste rules they lost their independent religious/martial-arts traditions. Maliyali Billawas speak the Byari language and their Kula (god) is Baghavathi. The Billavas believe in ancestral worship.
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