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Paravan is a subdivision or caste among Hindus.

Paravan is also a caste name given to the Christian Caste fishermen who are mostly Roman Catholics, living in the region of south Tamilnadu. There are seven villages where these people mostly live. They are Tuticorin, Periyathalai, Uvari, Manapadu, Kooduthazhai, Kootapani, Alanthalai, Amalinagar, and Veerapandiyan pattinam.^{citation needed}

In Srilanka, members of this caste are mostly known by the surnames Fernando, Coonghe, Poobalrayer, and Costa.^{citation needed}

Paravans in Popular Culture

• A family of paravans features in the book The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy.

The paravan mentioned in the book of arundhati roy are referred to as Parayan in Tamilnadu.The parayans are classified as a sheduled cast.But the paravan of Tamilnadu are referred to as Paravar, Bharathar or fernandos.The gegraphical area of their habitation starts from Rameswaram to Kanyakumari in the south coast of Tamilnadu.The head of this caste used to be referred to as Chevalier like chevalier Roche, Chevalier Machado et al.