A glimpse of Badaga Cuisine and Dance

I found this interesting piece of youtube clip in FB – Badaga Group. Though it is, more of the Nilgiris and about a local hotel, I like the way Badagas have been portrayed – in a positive way.

I have mentioned about the Koi Udakka and Gaasu Dhotti in the Badaga Recipe page much earlier.see http://badaga-recipes.blogspot.in/

Also, do you know that the Nilgiri Mountain Railway – now a UNO heritage – has a strong Badaga connection. Rao Bahadur Hubbathalai Joghee Gowder Bellie Gowder, undisputed Nakku Betta Chief till his demise in 1935, laid the NMR track from Mettupalayam to Ooty  in 1908 during the British time. Bellie Gowda was the one who built the first school for Badagas in Hubbathalai. He was given the title Rao Sahib and Rao Bahadur mainly because of this. See also http://sites.google.com/site/badagacommunity/raobahadurhjbelliegowder

His son Rao Bahadur HB ARi Gowder, another great Nakku Betta leader, was the railway contractor during his time. see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._B._Ari_Gowder

Amazingly, these two were authorised to stop this ‘toy train’ anywhere between Coonoor and Ooty just by showing the hand to stop.