The beauty about Badaga community is not only the unique customs specific to the community but the steadfast belief with which atleast some of them are followed by Badagas with fervour. One of them is the loud chanting of ‘Athikkodhu – saaying of EAY AH HOW – on certain but specific occasions. It is said that in earlier days [hundred of years back], when the Badaga villages [hattis] were separated by thick jungle forests , ‘athikkindu Hoppadhu ‘ – traversing the forest with loud athikkodhu chant – kept the wild animals away.
Three occasions come to mind immediately,
1) During “Hethay Habba’ – both when from every village the devotees go to Hethay temples at Beragani and Peddhuva as well as when the Hethay deity is taken to ‘Madi Halla -river’ for change into new dress once a year [and also whenever a hatti temple deity is taken on procession during habbas in hattis],
2) During weddings when the bride and groom are brought to the ‘Madhuvay Mane – wedding house,and the newly weds are taken to the temple and
3) On funerals when the widow is brought for ‘olay Kattodhu’ and the ‘akki eththuva ‘ procession starts from the ‘dhodda Mane’ to ‘saavu hanay ‘ where the corpse/body is kept before being taken for burial.
This loud ‘chanting /cry’ is made from the bottom of the stomach by a few leading the procession and repeated by the rest following them.
I have given the ‘live’ recordings of this unique chanting (recorded during a wedding [the band playing in the background] at Thambatty
and
at a funeral at Kundhey Ketchigatty)
I am Sukumar From Coimbatore Thudiyalur. I am looking for my friend, Mr. Santosh, he is from Bikkati, Last seen in 2002 In Regional Engineering College Perundurai, if any body knows him, kindly let me know his phone number or any details.
Kindly help.
After 20 year, I am searching for him
Mobile no: 9865330188
Email is :selvarajsukumar@ymail.com
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Strange, I am from MP and they will also produce these sound in special occasions. Can you help with a you tube channel if any to learn Badaga accent.
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proud to be a badaga………..
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We are lucky enough to be born as Badaga
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I like badaga dance&songs. Very nice.
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Really good,why dont you give information about our origin.
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