Gowda: The Gowdas of Sulya region in the district are migrants from the Hassan region. They use a variant of Kannada dialect known as Gowda kannada or Arebhase. In addition to this they know Kannada and Tulu also. They use Kannada script.

Agriculture is their main occupation.

Siddavesha or Purusharakunitha (purer) is their traditional folk dance.

They had caste panchayath assembled at Kattemane.

The original main house of the joint family was called as Taravadu mane and the Guttu houses were known as Ayanmane.

During the marriages they should be paid 101⁄2 rupees as 'Tera' and out of this 64 rupees should be given to Gurumata as Gurupana.

The deceased ancestors are worshipped as Gurukarnuraru. They worship the Vaidika Brahminic Gods and the local deities.
The gowdas who are living in parts of Belthangadi and Puttur are said to have migrated to Dakshina Kannada from Moodigere in Chikkamagalur District and also from Sakaleshpur and Belur in Hassan District, about 300 years ago. They speak kannada and worship kalabyraveshwara and follow Adichunchanagiri Mat.

At present there are about over 2000 families living in the district. Their main occupation being agriculture. They are basically non-vegetarians. According to traditional belief since the Moodigere Taluk was suffering from severe famine and also heavy rains during great part of the year, some of these families migrated to the Dakshina Kannada District below the ghats. They normally cremate the dead bodies.