how did the villagers make the men ready for their meals
Answers
About 500 centuries ago, the wealthy Reddiar caste of tradesmen living in the region gave the job of cooking to the Vaniyars (a lower caste), who were good with culinary arts. They were also a storehouse of secret food recipes and did a better job of cooking than the traditional Brahmin cooks. At that time, farming was not a profitable job and the men were unskilled in any other trade, so they ended up developing an interest in cooking. That is how the tradition started.
Today, the much-in-demand male cooks of Kalayur travel for six months throughout South India, and cook mouth-watering fare for one and all. On other days, they prepare wedding or birthday feasts. And guess what, if they are provided with all the ingredients, the cooks can prepare the feast for a thousand people in merely 3 hours!