A typical Ethu Pundaya is between 2.5 to 3.5 feet long, making it shorter than a staff but longer than a cudgel. Its design reveals its dual-purpose nature:
The Ethu Pundaya originates from the rural heartlands of Tamil Nadu and parts of Kerala. Its direct ancestor is the valari (a bent throwing stick) and the simple ethu kambu (goad stick), used by farmers to guide oxen or water buffalo. In a society where carrying a sword was often restricted to warriors (Kshatriyas), the common farmer, herder, or watchman needed a legal and practical weapon. ethu pundaya