Badaga Weddings

Badaga customs and traditions are known for their simplicity, adaptability and practicality. In this respect a Badaga wedding follows a set of simple rules that has been almost the same over the centuries. But for a minor change here and there, it has been almost the same in all the villages spread across the Nakku Betta or the Nilgiri Hills.
The greatest plus points of a Badaga marriage are that there is NO DOWRY, the wedding always takes place in the boy’s (bride groom’s) house [or the  place of his choice in case of a Kalyana Mandapam /Hotel] and all the wedding expenses including the customary feast [Maduve Hittu] of only vegetarian dishes, are borne by the groom’s family.
Incidentally, divorce and remarriges are not uncommon and a widow is not condemned for ever like in most of the Hindu communities and in many cases the widow can marry again even if she has children from her earlier marriage.

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See a typical Badaga wedding in pictures here

23 responses to “Badaga Weddings”

  1. Unknown's avatar Ann | 09/11/2024 at 5:40 pm | Reply

    (Edited – Hatti name and individual names have been masked)

    This is a story of Mine, dating a Badaga guy from xxxxxxx Hatti, Nilgiris, named xxxxxxx living in Sydney.

    I feel like a lot of Badaga guys and girls don’t take relationships seriously—they’ll sleep around but only consider marrying within their own community. It’s honestly frustrating and feels hypocritical.

    First of all, dating or having any kind of relationship with a Badaga guy can be unwise if you’re a non-Badaga. In my experience, they often don’t care about the hurt they cause and do so without hesitation. Many tend to believe they are superior, showing little respect for others. Ultimately, they may leave you for a Badaga girl, prioritizing their cultural preferences. For this reason, I believe it’s best to avoid any sort of relationship with them, not even as friends

    We were seeing each other for a year, and throughout that time, he often displayed a sense of superiority, showing little respect for my feelings. The worst part came just a day before my final exams, when he abruptly ended the relationship, telling me that we were “nothing.” And from his own mouth He said he used me only for Sex just fill up his thirst , leaving me to deal with the emotional and mental toll.

    He always knew I had feelings from him and my intentions was only pure , but he completely broke me to pieces. I tried my best to patch up with him everytime . But after this I felt he doesn’t deserve me.

    Based on my experience, cultural differences may have played a role.

    I felt sharing my story might save a woman from people like him.

    I wished his mother could have raised him a little better. Could have taught him how to respect women and how to respect people from other community.

    Even if you are breaking up – show some empathy to the other person.

    Further talking to other people in Nilgiris, it seems it is common in the community—many Badaga guys and girls are just dating around casually, having _____ relationship and breaking hearts along the way, but they’re strict about only marrying someone from their caste. It’s disappointing.

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  2. Pingback: Sai Pallavi can't hold back happy tears at Pooja Kannan's Badaga-style wedding. See pics | Parlour News India

  3. Nive's avatar Nive | 17/10/2017 at 6:19 pm | Reply

    Happy to understand and know that there is adaptability and practicality in Badagas, and appreciate that there is NO DOWRY. However, I would like to understand that in today’s world – as you all know the various cultures throughout our nation are being merged in one family and its like diversity through marriages between different castes, languages and cultures – apologies though I am not a keen supporter of inter-religion marriages. Why is that still in Badagas I can see that they are not accepting inter-caste marriages? I think people must support it as well, atleast considering we all are humans of same race in hindu/christian/muslim minority?!

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  4. Priyadharshan's avatar Priyadharshan | 20/07/2016 at 11:28 am | Reply

    Can a Badaga woman marry a non badaga man?

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  5. claro's avatar claro | 07/07/2016 at 12:10 pm | Reply

    Can a divorced woman in the Badaga community marry any man of her choice or can do intercaste marriage?

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  6. Suresh's avatar Suresh | 17/09/2013 at 3:42 pm | Reply

    what is the morai between ketti & kundaha seemay

    Like

  7. Manoj.M's avatar Manoj.M | 11/01/2013 at 1:19 pm | Reply

    I would like to thank you for providing very valuable historical & culture and values of Badagas.

    Like

  8. john's avatar john | 26/08/2012 at 10:15 am | Reply

    i am suprised to know about this identical tribe.. i have friends from baduga .. they and their language.. am very much eager to learn this lovely knowledge..

    Like

  9. ramya's avatar ramya | 29/04/2012 at 12:46 pm | Reply

    I am not a Badaga.. but after seeing all your rituals.. I like to get converted to your community.. Is there any opportunity for that?

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  10. James's avatar James | 21/03/2012 at 7:14 pm | Reply

    Really great to learn of a new culture to me from your website! Great work! Also good to learn of your simple, practical but rich culture. Especially intriguing is that the society could see divorce and remarriage for what it is, a continuation of life and carry on with living instead of condemnation and despair. I am a friend of Badaga! Really great and rich website!Best regards!

    Hello James, my humble thanks for your kind words of praise. Greatly appreciate it. – Wg Cdr JP

    Like

  11. SUKANYA's avatar SUKANYA | 17/12/2011 at 5:05 pm | Reply

    I am very much proud and happy to know that most of the people who visited this website and got more information about Badaga but this information is for non Badaga not for Badaga people. The Badagas should have more knowledge about their language and their culture. I am proud to be a Badaga and also proud to say that I know my culture without reading or visiting any books or website.BADAGAS ALWAYS ROCK

    Hello Sukanya, I can’t make out whether your comments are complimentary or complaints. Anyway, thanks for the same and hope every Badaga is able to say ‘I know my culture without reading or visiting any books or website’.That will be a great day to save our community. – Wg Cdr JP

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    • Jeyakumar's avatar Jeyakumar | 23/02/2012 at 7:43 pm | Reply

      I feel proud to be a Badaga. It is necessary to all our community people to know our culture and the traditions. My heartiest thanks to the designer of this website to publish about our community traditions.

      Like

  12. ranjith's avatar ranjith | 14/12/2011 at 3:30 pm | Reply

    I really wondered on seeing the information.it is nice website to know abt our traditional informations, I am very proud to be a Baduga.thats great kartick

    Like

  13. Karthick Mani's avatar Karthick Mani | 25/10/2011 at 3:19 pm | Reply

    GREAT TO BE A BADAGA

    Like

  14. PRP's avatar PRP | 19/09/2011 at 12:37 am | Reply

    I am not a Badaga but I got chance for friendship with Badaga guys.Really they are all of good character and helping mind.

    Like

  15. saara's avatar saara | 05/03/2011 at 7:50 pm | Reply

    Me too Baduga. it is nice website to know abt our traditional informations, I am very proud to be a Baduga

    Like

  16. jithendar's avatar jithendar | 16/02/2011 at 4:30 pm | Reply

    Me too a baduga, its a wonderful website to know about our culture and other information, its very good.

    Like

  17. Sridaran's avatar Sridaran | 20/11/2010 at 10:44 pm | Reply

    Marriages without “dowry and horoscope” ?? I am feeling proud to be a Badaga

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  18. Deepak's avatar Deepak | 12/11/2010 at 6:35 am | Reply

    I always feel proud while discussing about marriages with my friends(non-badaga), wherein all will speak about giving and recieving DOWRY and I used to say that “We Badaga’s dont even use that word DOWRY”. Proud to be BADAGA…..

    Like

  19. Pradheep's avatar Pradheep | 29/07/2010 at 1:32 pm | Reply

    I really wondered on seeing the information. Though I am a Badaga, I don’t know any history or abt our culture… from this website I came to know a lot information. Really, it is a thing that has to be appreciated by all our Badaga people to encourage the talented guys from our caste.. let us pray for their success in future to direct a hit movie so that the world will come to know abt our culture !

    Thanks a lot Predheep, this website is an ‘one man effort’. Hit movie tp spread our culture…sure..why not? – JP

    Like

  20. Sai Dixit's avatar Sai Dixit | 23/03/2010 at 9:12 pm | Reply

    I had the priviledge to come for a Badaga wedding last weekend.

    I was astonished to see the people following the same old culture here with utmost respect even now , when the rapidly changing modern society is having a great impact on cultures around the world.

    I am not an Badaga, but danced (Badaga Dance) to the Badaga Song and enjoyed eating the Badaga Food. I dont have words to explain the joy I had in the two days I spent with Badaga Community. Hospitality of the people is commendable. My respect to your community has sky rocketed . The Place (Nilgiris) is Awesome and the People are very Humble.

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  21. Ashok (Peria Hubbathalai)'s avatar Ashok (Peria Hubbathalai) | 01/03/2010 at 7:14 pm | Reply

    The bridegroom is from my (Hubbathalai) hatty. I am proud to be a Badaga.

    Like

  22. Unknown's avatar Rajkumar | 08/01/2010 at 3:07 pm | Reply

    Good work done. I got lot of information from this. My wishes and cooperation will be there always.And add to this Bagadas dont see horoscope for marriage.

    Like

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