Flora and Fauna

[Reproduced]

BADAGAS – ON FLORA AND FAUNA

The Badagas have attached a lot of importance to flora and fauna for thousands of years.

In fact most of the names of Badaga Hattis (Villages) are based on ‘Nature’.

For example , the name ‘ Hubbathalai ‘ ( a village near Aravankadu Railway Station) is based on a plant ‘HUBBE THALE ‘. ‘ Bikka mora hatti’ (another village) gets the name after the tree BIKKE (a kind of olive) MORA (tree)

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Thumbay Hoo – Thumbay Flower

Image via Wikipedia

This flower finds a a lot of importance/mention in Badaga Festivals and rituals.

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Bird or Flower ??

The beautiful flower bird

Badaga folklore is full of glory about Nature. The Nilgiri Hills are endowed with rich flora and fauna, a true gift of mother NATURE. Of the many wild flowers, this particular one which grows on a short wild tree near many villages, has always fascinated me, where it appears that mother Nature created a bird as a flower….or is it a flower as a bird ? !

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” A miniature pet ??? “.

Another instance of Nature at its best. A ‘Kambli Poochi’ at our residence at Coonoor.  The day after I took this snap, I was desperately trying to locate it again, but……it has just vanished !! Any insect is called ‘hoo’ in Badaga. Incidentally, ‘hoo’ also means flower.

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Seen this animal somewhere?

Oh..yes..it is a butterfly..’bendu’ in Badaga

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Also, see the beautiful blue mountains here – the-picturesque-nilgiris