North Malabar of native Hindus, native Mappila-Muslims, native Jains and migrant-Christian communities and is characterized by distinct socio-cultural customs and behavior. The people of North Malabar have striven to preserve their distinct and unique identity and heritage since ancient times, through colonial times into modern political India. From the seventeenth century onward, until the early twentieth century, there were cultural taboos among certain communities from North Malabar, which forbade their women marrying people of the same respective communities, from the southern territories. Even in modern times it is not uncommon to see "alliances from Malabar region preferred" in newspaper matrimonial announcements placed
Malabar (Naval Exercise) ship and the nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine and a P-3C maritime patrol aircraft. Indian naval units included guided-missile destroyers and ; the guided-missile frigates , , , and ; the replenishment tanker ; and a "Shishumar"-class diesel-electric submarine. The Indian Navy, Japan Maritime Self Defense Force and U.S. Navy expanded their maritime partnerships during exercise Malabar 2009, held off the coast of Japan between 29 April and 3 May 2009. The features of Exercise Malabar 2009 were: • Visit, Board, Search & Seizure (VBBS) techniques • Surface warfare maneuvers • Anti-submarine warfare • Gunnery training • Air defense The ships involved