In the coastal regions, there was a practice known as Arabikkalyanam, where Arab merchants would marry Mappila women. These Arab merchants, after leaving their families behind, would arrive on the coast and stay for months or even years. During this time, they would marry a local woman, and the groom would be referred to as Puthiyappila (new groom). When the merchant eventually left, he would either divorce his wife or take her back to Arabia.
This practice often resulted in significant challenges, particularly if the merchant failed to send money for the support of his wife and children, leaving the family in poverty. Hence, it slowly vanished.
