Badagas of the Blue Mountains

The Empowered Badaga women – Indrani Radhakrishna and Sabitha Bhoja

There are quite a few Badagas who share their thoughts in social media like FaceBook. I am not very active but do share my http://www.badaga.co posts in FB and Twitter. Also, get to read some posts that are forwarded to me.

However, must point out about two Badaga ladies. Greatly impressed with the posts of Ms.Indrani Radhakrishna and Ms.Sabitha Bhoja(n).

[In a new post , we will discuss how some traditional Badaga names have been distorted when used in Tamil , like Maadha has become Mathan and Haala to Halan.]

Indrani Radhakrishna is a lawyer and shares lot of information on a wide variety of subjects along with many nice pictures. Always a pleasure to read her posts that are very informative and educative. Indrani is from Yeddappalli  and married to a lawyer from Naduhatty.  She informs that she is doing research on Badagas and the Nilgiris and now completed research on Todas (her book on Nilgiri Heritage is pending publication). She was invited & attended a conference at SriLanka and is a regular speaker at Rotary Club,Coimbatore. She is a multi talented/faceted social activist.

https://www.facebook.com/indrani.krishna.9

Sabitha Bojan’s poems in Tamil are a sheer joy to go through. Timely, contemporary and covers the latest happenings around us. Her depth of knowledge of the language is simply superb

https://www.facebook.com/sabitha.bojan

Though, like many other communities, Badagas too, have not given equal importance to women, these talented ladies are breaking that barrier. They are inspiration for others to follow and stand out as empowered women

You can learn more about these two Badaga ladies in the links given.

Proud of you Indrani and Sabitha !

Badagar Welfare Association, Chennai, celebrates its 50 years Golden Jubilee and 125th Birth Anniversary Remembrance of Rao Bahadur H.B.Ari Gowder.

On 24th Feb 2019, the Badagar Welfare Association, Chennai (BWAC) celebrated its 50 years Golden Jubilee along with the 125th birth anniversary remembrance of the greatest Badaga leader Rao Bahadur H.B.Ari Gowder at Chennai in grand style.

The Badaga Association in Chennai is one of the oldest having more than 300 members with 90 life members.

It has an office in its own flat in a multi story complex.

The present office bearers of the association under the Presidentship of Dr.R.K.Haldorai along with M.Radhakrishnan, J.Ramamoorthy, K.Gunasekar and V.Jaganathan pulled out all plugs to make it a memorable occasion. The association has A.Bobblie as the chief Patron and Dr.C.R.Bhojan & Mrs. Lakshmi Ramakrishnan as patrons.

On this momentous occasion, they have brought out a beautiful souvenir which contains many rare pictures and informative articles and also, some popular Badaga Ballads.

We congratulate BWAC for the excellent arrangements and grand celebrations and put on record our deep gratitude for inviting us and showing the Badaga hospitality in all its glory.

Some pictures taken on that day

Welcome to this site which is all about the

Badagas of the Blue Mountains

Baarivi, Odhivi, Nodivi & Ohridivi

[‘Baarivi, Odhivi, Nodivi & Ohridivi’ in Badaga means ‘Come, Read, See & Listen’]

1.Badaga Origin [What we DO NOT know about Badagas is more than what we know about them. Such is the mystery of Badaga Origin. Read the complete article here]

2.Badaga Language [“It appears that there are none who know ‘PURE’ Badaga. This is not due to lack of words in Badaga. Lot of Badaga words have been forgotten [due to the influence of Tamil and English] and hence become extinct”.]

3.Badaga Names [What is in a name, a rose smells the same by any other name” so said a great poet. But is it so ? In the context of preserving the culture of a community, the names given to both persons and places can play a very crucial part.]

4.Badaga Songs [Music and Badagas are inseparable. Be it the ever green dance (aatta) numbers, the sad savu (funeral) songs or the beautiful ballads…sky is the limit. For some nice Badaga songs click here

5. Badaga Villages – Hattis [Badagas, generally, refer to their village or hamlet as ‘ HATTI ‘ spread around ‘Nakku Betta’ (the Nigiris). Nakku Betta literaly means four (Nakku) Mountains (betta) though there are many hills around which the villages are located]

6. Hethay Amma History [Hethay Amma is the deity of all Badagas. Hethai Habba is always on the first MONDAY (SOVARA), the most sacred day of Badagas, after the full moon (paurnami – HUNNAWAY ) that falls in (Tamil) Margazhi month, that is the 9th day after eight days of ‘Kolu’]

7.Badaga Jewellery [The main ornaments are the nose ring called ‘ MOOKUTHI ‘ and the ear ring known as ‘CHINNA’ . Chinna , literaly means gold but usually refers to ear rings. The type shown above is worn both by men and women. Of course, the ‘ BELLI UNGARA ‘ [silver finger ring] has a special place in Badaga tradition and considered to have medicinal / health benefits]

8.Badaga Wedding [Badaga customs and traditions are known for their simplicity, adaptibility 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]

9.Badaga Funeral [Ever since I became aware of the verses of ‘Karu Harachodhu’, I felt how nice it would be if these beautiful words could be given in English [ both in script and as translation] so that the present day youngsters could understand one of the most important and significant part (prayer) of Badaga funeral rites]

10.All about Ari Gowder [Rao Bahadur H.B.Ari Gowder, the first Badaga graduate, first Badaga M.L.C & M.L.A for a long time who had brought many reforms in/to Badaga Community including ‘prohibition’ (no alcohol – kudi to Nilgiris in British days itself. Ari Gowder lead the Indian contigent (yes, “INDIAN CONTIGENT) to World Scouts Jumboree held in Europe in the 1930s]

11.First Badaga It will be very interesting [I hope as well as informative & motivating] to list all those BADAGAS who were / are the ’FIRST’in any field.Where I am not sure, I have put a question mark, so that someone may supply the correct or corrected info

12. Rare Photos [..The title says it all ..]

13. Badaga Day [May 15th is celebrated as Badaga day, every year. Many may not be aware that this has been done from 1993 onwards. The Porangadu Seeme (Mainly Kotagiri Area) has been celebrating this day as ‘Ari Gowder Day’ also, in honour of Rao Bahadur H B Ari Gowder…]

14.Badaga Poems [One of the enchanting aspects of Badaga Language is its disarming simplicity. But though the sentences are swathed in sweetness of simple words, it can contain deep expressions of emotions conveyed in the proper usage of rhymes [holla – alla] or pair words [huttu – nattu] apart from other attributes]

15.Badaga Elders [There are a few elderly Badagas spread among our Hattis and Cities who are so well informed about us. May be due to their age or the personal interest and individual atrributes, they know about our origin, customs, culture or anything connected and concerning Badagas. It is a shear blessing to meet them.]

16. Badaga Recipes [Badagas usually grow vegetables in their small patch(es) of land called ‘HOLA’ (see photo) for their regular use apart from other commercial crops like potato, cabbage, carrot and cauliflower etc. These would also include many varities of beans, peas, greens, corn etc]

17.Badaga Proverbs [One of the fascinating and interesting aspect of Badaga [both people & language] is the free use of delightful but deep meaning proverbs called “ DODDARU SHLOKA”. When you engage an elderly Badaga into any conversation, you are sure to hear a lot of these proverbs thrown in to make / emphasis a point]

18.Badaga Calendar [Badaga month should start on the 10th of an English month as far as possible and also to ensure that the number of days in a month is either 30 or 31 days. Since Badagas consider ‘Sovara’ (Monday) as the most auspicious and ‘holy’ day, they have attached a lot of importance to that day]

19.Badaga Script It has always been felt that for a language to survive, it should have its own script. It cannot remain only as a spoken language for long. But of course, the script need not be peculiar and specific one pertaining to that particular language. So too is the necessity of a script for Badaga. Many have attempted to achieve this objective with various degrees of success. But unfortunately, to my knowledge, no records exist. I am no expert on phonetics or languages or much less innovating an unique script. But the urge to have a separate script has convinced me that it is very much possible to ‘ADOPT’ an existing script and ‘ADAPT’ it to Badaga language.

20. Badaga Poetry

21. General

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• Bravo, Rajamma of Kethorai - Kethorai Rajamma, who made all  those known her , especially the Badagas, very proud by winning an award from the President of India, recently has written to say, Dear Mr.JP…, My earnest greetings..Your efforts for the beautiful bagadas of the … Continue reading →
• Time to change with changing times? - Narmu  writes : “I am new to this site. I am very proud to be a Badaga girl. Our people are very loving, caring and are with humanity to a great extent except when it comes to inter caste marriage. … Continue reading →
• Marrying a person with no MORAY - dharshani raj  (dharshani.ds@gmail.com) asks ‘I want to know if it is wrong in marrying a person with no moray’  This question, though appears to be simple, is an important one since many of us, including the self – appointed GOWDAS … Continue reading →
• Dr.Sundaradevan, the First Badaga IAS officer writes…. - Dr. Sundaradevan Nanjiah  IAS I am a regular visitor to your website for more than a year now.  Please accept my congratulations for a splendid job.  I can appreciate the enormous efforts put in by you single-handedly in gathering so … Continue reading →
• Kinnakorai – the beautiful village ! - Anand.N.R [from Kinnakorai] writes : I have recently visited your website and interested in knowing about us Badagas and our origin. Your website gives us many useful   information about Badagas . I have been to many hattis in Ooty and collected … Continue reading →

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(Reproduced)

Hethai Habba 

comes to a conclusion today in most of the hattis, 31 Dec 2018.

Have a great Hethe Habba !

Happy New Year !!

Hethe Amma, the purest one, in your blessings lie our well being !

HETHE MANE [Hethai Temple]

Madekke mannoondha aaleyu, adhu thirigi mannoo aagha

[Even though a pot has been made out of clay, it cannot become clay again]

Thuppa benne endha aaleyu, adhu thirigi benne aagha

[Clarified butter (nei in Tamil), though made out of butter, cannot become butter again]

Jenu hoo endha aaleyu, adhu thirigi hoo aagha,

[Honey, that comes from flowers, cannot become flowers again]

Holladha vakka Hethe Mane ga hodha maele, thirigi holladhavakka aagharu

[After going to Hethai Temple, ‘bad’ people cannot remain bad]

[from silver jubilee souvenir 1993, BWA-Madras]

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‘HETHAI HABBA’ is the biggest festival of Badagas

To read the ‘history of HETHAI AMMA’ Click here

Hethai Habba is always on the first MONDAY (SOVARA), the most sacred day of Badagas, after the full moon (paurnami – HUNNAWAY ) that falls in (Tamil) Margazhi month, or in Dec/Jan of English Calendar month.

It is not fixed on a particular day like say X-Mas which is always on the 25th December of every year & hence the Hethai Habba day with reference to English Calender changes every year.

Every year, from various hattis the male members in their traditional dress [white turban – MANDARE, MUNDU & Badagaru SEELE along with the family DHADI (stick)- see the photo] proceed to Hethai Gudi (mane) in Beragani on thr preceeding FRIDAY by foot. Every house in the hatti has to pay five HANA (25paise coin) in a ceremonial function called HANA KATTODU in the village Hethai Gudi ( also known as SUTHUKAL – a stone under a Bikke mora tree that is worshipped – see the photos below). This money (coins) – KANNIKE – tied in a white cloth will be handed over to the Hethai temple at Beragani.

The villagers will give a warm and respectful send off to those proceeding to Hethai Mane (- they would have followed a very strict code of conduct like not eating non vegetarian food or consuming alcohol). As they (including many young boys) proceed away from the village, women spread white sheets (mundus) on the path and all those (men, women & children) not proceeding will prostrate ( adda bubbadu ) and they will be blessed ( harachodu ). The unique (BadagaATHIKKODU ) ” Ye Ha Ho ” will be loudly uttered.

As you listen to this ‘  Ye Ha Ho ‘ you can feel goose pimples rising, eyes welling up with tears and the heart filled with thoughts of the ALL POWERFUL HETHAI with both happiness and awe.

These men will return back to their Villages on the next monday – THE HETHAI HABBA DAY – to a grand and ceremonial welcome after attending to various rituals / ceremonies at Beragani & Gasu gui. Usually there will be ‘ Anna Dhana ‘

Every BADAGA (male & female) must visit Hethai Mane gudi (temple) either at Beragani or Pedduva at least once to experience and get the blessings of HETHAI during this fantastic festival called Hethi Habba.

This is the only day the deity – HETHAI – will be shown to the public for a few seconds

R. Ramachandran of Kekkatti gives an interesting tit bit : ‘The Hethai Dhadi, considered very sacred, is always kept in the sacred corner called HAGOTTU, which is situated in the OGA MANE [inner room where the kitchen is located] adjoining EDA MANE.

In the olden days the diary products where stored here. It has the churing stick or the MATTHU which is attached to a pole firmly buried to the ground. This was used for churning milk and only the men had the rights to enter this place. The diary products were stored in THATTAE (mud pots) inside the HAGOTTU. Since Hagottu is treated as sacred, it is smeared with cowdung every Mondays with water gathered from springs (HUTTU NEERU) only.

The HETTHAI DHADHI is kept in the HAGOTTU inside a bamboo that has been bored along its length so that the DHADHI can fit in. The DHADHI is taken out once a year and cleaned with salt & tamarind and then taken to the HETHAI MANE during the festival and kept back in its place as soon as the festival is over. Any outside materials that are taken into the HAGOTTU are ’purified’ by applying camphor vapour (KAPPARANA AATHODHU)).

Here, mention must be made about HONE used for milking of buffaloes (nowadays vessels or buckets are used). This container/sort of vessel is a broad hollow bamboo mearuing about 2 feet in length with the lower end closed. Ladies during their periods are not allowed into the room that holds the HAGOTTU. Ladies also, usually, do not eat inside the OGAMANAE where the HAGOTTU is present’.

In olden days, every household had a Hethai Dhadi of its own. Prof.Paul Hockings mentions that HAGOTU is the milk churning place, adjoining kitchen, inside the house – a place of worship, into which the women are not allowed to enter. But Dodda Mane in a hatti must have a Hogotu and if it is absent, the front portion of the kitchen is still considered sacred and for men only. Also called OGASU by Lingayat and Haruva Badagas.

There is a DHODDARU SHULOKA [Badaga proverb] which says,

’sappode sare, hagotu dura’ meaning

‘The milk vessel is nearby, but the churning place is far off’

The villagers give a warm and respectful send off to those proceeding to Hethai Mane (- they would have followed a very strict code of conduct like not eating non vegetarian food or consuming alcohol). As they (including many young boys) proceed away from the village, women spread white sheets (mundus) on the path and all those (men, women & children) not proceeding will prostrate ( adda bubbadu ) and they will be blessed ( harachodu ) by those ‘hethai kararu’. The unique ,Badaga ATHIKKODU – ” Ye Ha Ho ” will be loudly uttered.

As you listen to this ‘ Ye Ha Ho ‘ you can feel goose pimples rising, eyes welling up with tears and the heart filled with thoughts of the ALL POWERFUL HETHAI with both happiness and awe.

They will attend to many ceremonies & functions at Hethai Mane – Beraganni /Pedduva/Gasu Gui .

These men will return back to their Villages on the next monday – THE HETHAI HABBA DAY – to a grand and ceremonial welcome. Usually there will be ‘ Anna Dhana ‘ at their villages.

Every Badaga must visit HETHAI GUDI (temple) either at Beragani or Pedduva at least once to have an unique experience and get the blessings of HETHAI during this fantastic festival called Hethi Habba.

The visit can be on any day during the ‘kolu’ period when lakhs of Badagas in their whites, throng these holy places and their cars and other vehicles would have been parked for a few kms on the all available roads. There are many more thousands of non Badaga devotees also.

EVERYONE WILL BE SERVED FOOD ( HITTU ).

This is the only day the deity – HETHAI – will be shown to the public for a few seconds.

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Dear Sri JP

Seem to have covered a major part of the processes of the Hethai Habba. To add to this library on Hethai I am presenting a few lines on HAGOOTU. I hail from Ketti Kekkatty and one rare site in a badaga house is the presence of HAGOOTTU . This is basically a pooja room as we call it these days, but this is the only place a HETHAI DHADI is kept in a house other than the temples. And I am proud to say that we have a HAGOOTU in my house with the HETHAI DHADI.

Hagottu is situated in the OGAMANAE which is the sacred corner of any Badaga house. In the olden days the diary products where stored here. It has the churing stick or the MATTHU which is attached to the pole firmly burried. This was used for churning milk and only the men had the rights to enter this place. The diary products were stored in THATTAE ( mud pots) inside the HAGOTTU. Since this is treaded as the sacred place this is smeared with cowdung every week on Mondays with water gathered from the springs only. The HETTHAI DHADHI is kept in the HAGOTTU inside a bamboo which is bored along its height so that the DHADHI fits in. The DHADHI is taken out once a year and cleaned with salt and tamarind and then taken to the HETHAI MANAE during the festival and kept back in its place as soon as the festival is over.

Any outside materials that are taken into the HAGOTTU are made pure by applying camphor vapour (kappurana aathothu). Here wish to mention the HONAE the container during milking of buffaloes (nowadays vessels or buckets are used). This is a broad bamboo mearuing about 2 to 3 feet hollow inside except the lower end. Ladies during their periods are not allowed into the house that holds the HAGOTTU. Ladies also do not eat inside the OGAMANAE which the HAGOTTU is present.

R.Ramachandran

Kekkatty.

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I have added a few photos taken at Pedduva Hatti quite some years back from my archive. The photos of Hubbathalai Hethai Gudi ‘Suthu Kallu’ and the present ‘Head Pujari’ of Beraganni were taken a few days back (December, 2006) when Hetha Mane people were invited to Hubbathalai Village prior to the forth coming Hethai Habba as is the tradition. More on this ‘ritual/function’ called “Hethai Mane Kararuga Hittu Hakkuvadu” later.

On Hethai Habba day at Pedduva – pictures taken a few decades ago.

The following snaps were taken at Hubbathalai Village on 15 Dec 2006

Head Pujari of Hethai Mane (Pedduva)

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My favourite ‘HETHE’ songs which can soothen the senses and bring happiness are……

Betta Nakka Suthiaa..Beragani Hethe tha

Bettadha Jana Ealla

Oh Ennu Hethey Osane Kaathi

[The following lines (slogan with an outstanding hum!!??) will first be used to call our great hethey during hethey-habba.

We, the badagas use this slogan at the beginning to call hethey in a “devvaaduva” occasion especially during “hethey abba” season. Although we use this in other hatties during “poorthi”, an occasion in which hethey disciples/sishyas will be called, we normally use this in hethey maney during the aforementioned occasion and we could indeed feel something beyond….. at that particular moment. Further, we use this only in “hethey devvaaduva” occasion unlike “hethey bhajans”, which we use in all the temples in various hatties during “pujas”].

Eay amma ellitha idhey-neyyy…engaa maayaadha kanney-yeyyy

Eay amma ellitha idhey-neyyy…engaa neleyaadha kaathi-yeyyy

Eay amma ellitha idhey-ney…engaa eeraney masi-yey..ey – Aa eayyy

Eay amma thuppadha dheevigeyyy…thayey kachidheyoney..ey

Eay amma dhoopadha ogeyaaa…thayey ogathidheyo-ney..ey

Eay amma dhukka ondhunaaa…thayey theera bhaliney..ey – Aa eayyy

Eay amma maaraa jalliyaaa…thaayey mandeya bhuttu-nee..ee

Eay amma magaala kaayaaa…thaayey kondeya katti-nee..ee

Eay amma makkava kaappa jaama manakkana bhaali-ney..ey – Aa eayyy

Eay amma baladha kaiyaaa…thayey imbi idathu-nee..ee

Eay amma edadha kaiyaaa…thayey bhethu idathu-nee..ee

Eay amma bhevara ondhuna thayey eaga-bhaliney..ey – Aa eayyy

Eay amma bettadha janavuuu…thayey bhandhidharey-ney..ey

Eay amma seemeya janavuuu…kaathu nidhidharey-ney..ey

Eay amma sinnadha maathaaa…neenu thoarabhali-ney..ey – Aa eayyy

Eay amma makka illadhaaa…thayey mangeya rella-ney

Eay amma madiluga acheyyy…kaethu bhandhidharey-ney

Eay amma madiluga acheyyy…bhandhu kodabhekku nee-yey..ey – Aa eayyy

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(reproduced)

No articles, images and other material in this website can be reproduced without the written permission of

Wing Commander Bellie Jayaprakash B.E.(GCT,Madras Univ).,M.B.A (FMS, Delhi Univ)

Contact : bjaypee@gmail.com

belliejayaprakash©2008-2018

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Badaga or as some like to call Badagu, is a ‘classic‘ and independent language spoken by Badagas of the Blue Mountains or the Nilgiri hills, in north -west Tamil Nadu, bordering Karnataka and Kerala.

Though it is unique by itself, it can be said to be akin to Halaiya (old) Kannada more than any Dravidian language. But due to the geo – political reasons, it is more and more identified with Tamil.

Unfortunately, some over enthusiastic scholars and elders have been trying to eliminate the sound ‘ha -ஹ ‘ which is an integral part of the Badaga language and replace it with ‘ah- அ ‘ with some unacceptable justification that these letters (as well as letter like Ja ஜ, Sa ஸ, Sha ஷ ) do not form part of pure/classical Tamil though they are very much in day to day usage. .

Let me elaborate and justify why ha and other letters, like ஜ, ஸ, ஷ etc should remain as a core letters/sounds in Badaga.

A Badaga village is known as Hatti (ஹட்டி) and not as அட்டி.

Our deity Goddess is Hethe – ஹெத்தே and not Athe எத்தே

Some day to day words starting with ha

Haalu – ஹாலு – milk

Habba – ஹப்பா – festival

Hannu – ஹண்ணு – fruit

Haavu – ஹாவு – snake

I intend opening an exclusive blog to high light the importance and necessity of retaining these sounds/letters like Ha ஹ, Ja ஜ, Sa ஸ, Sha ஷ
Jana ஜன – people
Janni ஜன்னி – cold
Jakkadha –  ஜக்கத –  the famous hatti (village)

Hasu ஹஸு – hunger

Hethe nangava Harichali – ஹெத்தே நங்கவ ஹரிச்சலி

Let Hethe bless us !

Dr.Haldorai releasingthe calendar to Raghu Joghee

Dr.Haldorai has prepared a Badaga Calendar for 2019 and the same has been released by the Nelikolu Charitable Trust.

This is the second edition of Badaga Calendar conceived and prepared by Dr.Haldorai after the first edition one in 2018.

படகர் காலக்கணக்கு 

Dr.R.Haldorai

        படகுமொழியில் ஜெந (நாள்), பார (வாரம்), திங்குவ (திங்கள்), பருச (வருடம்) போன்றன காலக்கணக்கைக் காட்டும் சொற்கள்.

ஒரக்கது (காலை), ஹகலு (நண்பகல்), பூ ஹொத்து (எற்பாடு, சாயுங்காலம்), சந்தொத்து (மாலை), இரு (யாமம்), கோயிஜாம அல்லது பாகு (விடியல், வைகறை). என்பன சிறு பொழுதுகளாகும். சிறு பொழுதின் கால அளவு பத்து நாழிகை (நான்கு மணி நேரம்)  

        படகர் நாள்கணக்கில் ஞாயிறு உதயத்திலிருந்து மறு நாள் ஞாயிறு உதயம் வரை ஒரு நாளாகும். ஒரு நாள் முதலில் ஹகலு (பகல்), இரு (இரவு) என்று இரண்டாகப் பிரியும். ஒரக்கது, ஹகலு, பூ ஹொத்து என்பன பகலின் பிரிவுகள். சந்த்து அல்லது சந்தொத்து, இரு, கோயிஜாம அல்லது பாகு என்பன இரவின் பிரிவுகள்.

        ஒரு வாரத்திற்கு ஏழு நாள்கள். சோவார (திங்கள்), மங்கவார (செவ்வாய்), பொதவார (புதன்), சிக்குவார (வியாழன்), பெள்ளி (வெள்ளி). சநி (சனி), ஆதிவார (ஞாயிறு) என்பன படகுவில் நாள்களைக் குறிக்கும் சொற்கள். இவை முறையே சந்திரன், செவ்வாய், புதன், வியாழன், வெள்ளி, சனி, சூரியன் என்னும் கோள்கள் வரிசையில் அமைந்தன. இவற்றுள் சிக்குவார என்பது சுக்கிரனைக் குறிக்கும் எனக்கொள்ள இடமுண்டு. அவ்வாறானால் சிக்குவார என்பது சுக்கிரன் கோள் அடிப்படையில் வெள்ளிக்குரியது எனக்கொள்ள வேண்டும். என்றாலும் படகுமொழி வெள்ளிக்குப் பெள்ளி (வெள்ளி) என்று கோளைக் கொண்டுவிட்டு சிக்குவார என்பதை வியாழனுக்குக் கொண்டுள்ளது.

        1.) கூடலு, 2.) ஆலாநி, 3.) நல்லாநி, 4.) ஆநி, 5.) ஆதிரெ, 6.) பேராடி, 7.) ஆவாநி, 8.) பெரட்டாதி, 9.) தொட்ட தீவிகெ, 10.) கிரு தீவிகெ, 11.) தய், 12.) எம்மாட்டி  என்பன படகு மாதங்கள்.

        வளர்பிறை நாள் படகுவில் ’ஊ ஜெந’ என்று அழைக்கப்படுகிறது. தேய்பிறை ’அவ் ஜெந’ என்றழைக்கப்படுகிறது. தேய்பிறையைத் ‘தேவெரெ’ என்றும் குறிப்பிடுகின்றனர். ஒரு வளர்பிறை நாள்கள் ஒரு தேய்பிறை நாள்கள் இரண்டும் சேர்ந்தது ஒரு திங்கள் (மாதம்).

        படகர் திங்கள் (மாதம்) சந்திரமானக் கணக்கை அடிப்படையாகக் கொண்டது. திங்களை அளவுகோலாக வைத்துக் காலத்தைக் கணக்கிடும் முறை சந்திரமானம் என்று அழைக்கப்படுகிறது.

                படகர்க்கு வாரம் திங்கட்கிழமையில் தொடங்குகிறது; திங்கள் கிழமை விடுமுறை நாள்; பூசைக்குரிய நாள்; பெரும்பாலான பண்டிகைகள் திங்கள் கிழமையில் கொண்டாடப்படுகின்றன. திங்கட்கிழமை  என்பது ஏழு நாட்கள் கொண்ட ஒரு வாரத்தில்  ஞாயிற்றுக்கிழமைக்கும் செவ்வாய்க்கிழமைக்கும் இடையில் வரும் ஒரு நாள்.  படகுவில் திங்குவ என்னும் சொல் சந்திரனையும்  மாதத்தினையும் குறிக்கிறது.  திங்குவ என்னும் சொல் தமிழில் திங்கள் என்றும் கன்னடத்தில் திங்களு என்றும் மலையாளத்தில் திங்ஙளு என்றும் அழைக்கப்படுகின்றது. இம்மொழிகள் அனைத்திலும் இச்சொல் சந்திரன், மாதம் ஆகிய இரண்டையும் குறிக்கின்றன.

        படகர் சந்திரன் – சூரியன் காலக்கணக்கைக் கொண்டுள்ளனர். அதாவது திங்களைச் சந்திரன் அடிப்படையில் கணக்கிட்டுவிட்டு ஆண்டைச் சூரியன் அடிப்படையில் கணக்கிடுவது சந்திரன் – சூரியன் கணக்காகும்.

                படகுத் திங்கள் அமாவாசைக்கு அடுத்த நாளில் தொடங்குகிறது. ஆகையால் படகு புத்தாண்டும்  ஓர்  அமாவாசைக்கு அடுத்த நாள்தான் தொடங்கும். அமாவாசையை படகு மொழியில் முட்டு என்று குறிப்பிடுகின்றனர். தென்னாட்டைச் சேர்ந்த பஞ்ச திராவிடர்களுக்குத் (தமிழ், தெலுங்கு, கன்னடம், மராட்டி, குஜராத்து) திங்கள் அமாவாசைக்கு அடுத்த நாளில் பிறக்கும். அமாவாசைக்கு அடுத்த நாளிலிருந்து அடுத்த அமாவாசை நாள் வரை ஒரு திங்கள். சக ஆண்டு அல்லது சாலிவாகன ஆண்டு எனக் குறிப்பிடும் ஆண்டுமுறையிலும் அமாவாசைக்கு அடுத்த நாள்தான் திங்கள் பிறக்கும். சாலிவாகன ஆண்டுமுறை சந்திரன்–சூரியன் அடிப்படையில் உருவானது. இது கி.பி.78ஆம் ஆண்டில் தொடங்கப்பட்டதாகக் கணக்கிடுகின்றனர். இந்த அடிப்படையில் தான் படகுவில் 2019 ஆம் ஆண்டினை அய்யந 0பருச 1941 என்று குறிப்பிட்டுள்ளோம்.

        சந்திரமானக்கணக்கில் ஒரு திங்கள் 29/30 நாள்களைக் கொண்டதாக இருக்கும் படகர் மாதம் அமாவாசைக்கு அடுத்த நாளாக இருப்பதால் மாதத்தின் முதல் 15 நாள்கள் வளர்பிறையாகவும் அதற்கடுத்த 15 நள்கள் தேய்பிறையாகவும் இருக்கும்

        சூரியனை அளவுகோலாகக் கொண்டு அளவிடுவது சூரியமானக் கணக்கு. பூமி சூரியனை ஒருமுறை சுற்றிவர 365 1/4 நாள்கள் ஆகின்றன. இந்தக் கணக்கு முறையில் பருவங்கள் அனைத்தும் சரியாக வருகின்றன.

        சந்திரமானக் கணக்கில் ஒரு திங்கள் 29½ நாள்களைக் கொண்டது. அப்படி யானால் ஆண்டுக்கு 354 (29½ x 12) நாள்கள்தான் வருகின்றன. ஆனால் சூரியமானக் கணக்கில் ஓர் ஆண்டிற்கு 365 1/4 நாள்கள் வரவேண்டும். ஆகச் சந்திரமானக் கணக்கைத் திங்களுக்குக் கொண்டு ஆண்டுக்குச் சூரியமானக் கணக்கைக் கொள்ளும்போது அவ்வப்போது சில நாள்களைச் சேர்த்து கணக்கிட வேண்டிய நிலை உருவாகிறது.

        அமாவாசைக்கு அடுத்த நாள் ஒரு மாதத்தின் தொடக்கம் என்று கொள்ளும்போது ஓர் ஆண்டுக்குரிய பன்னிரண்டு திங்களுக்குப் பன்னிரண்டு அமாவாசைகள் இருக்க வேண்டும். ஆனால் இரண்டு ஆண்டுகள் கழிந்த பின் ஓர் அமாவாசை கூடுதலாக வந்து விடுகிறது. அதாவது அந்த ஆண்டில் பதிமூன்று  அமாவாசைகள் வந்துவிடுகின்றன. இதைச் சரிகட்ட அந்த ஆண்டில் ஓர் அமாவாசையைக் கணக்கில் எடுக்காமல் விட்டு விடுகின்றனர். இவ்வாறு ஓர் அமாவாசையைக் கணக்கில் எடுத்துக்கொள்ளாத ஆண்டைச் சரி பருச என்று குறிப்பிடுகின்றனர்.

        பௌர்ணமி நாளின்போது திங்கள் அருகில் இருக்கும் விளங்கிய மீனின் பெயரை அம்மாதத்தின் பெயராகக் கொள்வது சந்திரமானக் கணக்கின் முறையாகும். தொட்டதீவிகெ, கிருதீவிகெ என வரும் படகு மாதப்பெயர்கள் இதைத் காட்டும் வகையில் உள்ளன. எஞ்சியுள்ள படகு மாதப்பெயர்களும் இவற்றைப்போல் விண்மீனின் பெயர்களாகத்தான் இருக்க வேண்டும்.

        அமாவாசைக்கு அடுத்த நாளில் படகர் ஆண்டு தொடங்குவதால் ஆண்டுத் தொடக்கம் ஆண்டு தோறும் மாறி மாறி வரும்.

        சூரியமானக் கணக்குப் பருவங்களைக் குறிக்கச் சரியாக வருகின்றது. ஆகையால் சந்திரமானக் கணக்கைக் கொண்டுள்ளோர் திங்களைச் சந்திரமானம் அடிப்படையில் கணக்கிட்டுவிட்டு ஆண்டைச் சூரியமானக் கணக்குக்குக் கொண்டு செல்கின்றனர். இவ்வகையில்தான் படகு ஆண்டுமுறை அமைந்துள்ளது.

        நெலிகோலு அறக்கட்டளை சென்ற ஆண்டு படகர் நாள்காட்டி வெளியிட்டது. அதேபோல் இவ்வாண்டும் நாள்காட்டி வெளியிட்டுள்ளது. இது, படகர் வரலாற்றில் முதல்முதலாக, சந்திரன் – சூரியன் காலக்கணக்கைக் கொண்டு அச்சிட்ட நாட்காட்டி என்னும் சிறப்பைப் பெறுகிறது.   

                                                                -முனைவர் இரா.கு.ஆல்துரை

One of the wonderful and deeply meaningful customs of Badagas, is the seeking blessings of elders. That is, whenever any person meets/visits an elder, he or she seeks the blessings of the elderly person [elderly does not mean aged/old but only elder by age] by bowing the head and requesting “Harachu (bless me)”.

 If any headgear like cap/turban is worn, the same is removed. The elder, placing his/her right hand [or both hands] on top of the head of the youngster would bless [broadly] with the following words – footwear [kevaru / mettu]as well as the headgear [cap/kovili or turban / mandare] would be removed before blessings are sought / offered. The elderly person  blesses as ‘ Ondhu Nooru, Saavira Agili [let one become a hundred and then a thousand];  Somi, harachavu,sogavu kodili [may God give good health and happiness]; Hoppa eday, bappa eday ella ollithay barali [let only good things happen while going out or coming back]‘

Badaga Blessings

 This tradition not only ensures respect to elders but also shows the close bond. Incidentally, open palms -where the nerves end, is supposed to transmit positive vibrations. Thus, the open palms placed on the head, is the ultimate way of blessing.

If you are new to this custom, it may make us a bit uneasy and shy but when you get used to it, this is pure bliss.

Let us start seeking the blessings from the most neglected elders – our parents.

1. Ollithagi, ondhu saaviraagi, ko endu korasi, bo endu bokki, nooru thumbi, naadu jaradu, dheera p(b)oorana aagi, baddukki ba

[Let everything become good, let one become a thousand(wealth), let ‘ko’ be the call, let it boil as ‘bo’, let 100 (years) be completed, visit all [over] nation(s), be a great and enlightened person & come back with all these.

2. Ollitha Ethi, Hollava Thalli, Olagodho Ellava Geddu Ba

[Leave all that is bad, take all that is good , come back winning all/everything in this world]

3. Enna maathi / hennu, , sangatta salippu elladhe ollenge iru, paddipperi mundhuga hesarethi baa, hoppa dhari, Bappa Dhari yo, edinjillu elladhe ollange agili, Nee olagava hedithu ba !

[ Oh my son/daughter, let you live well without any disease or discomfort, let you become famous and may education take you forward, wherever you go, let there be no interruptions or hindrances and  may you come back safely. May you rule [lead] the nation (with your wisdom)]!

Full text :

ondhu, ompaththu aagali,

ondhu, saavira aagali,

harachchava kodali, sogava kodali,

baNda hechchali, badhukku hechchali,

bE hechchali, haalu hechchali, haNNu hechchali,

manE katti, maaru kattili,

ondhu manE, saavira manE aagali,

beNNE bettu aagali, thuppa theppa aagali,

hulla muttilE hoo aagali, kalla muttilE kaai aagali,

honna muttilE sinna aagali,

bettadhudhu bandhalEyu, beraluga adangali,

attudhadhu bandhalEyu, aangai adangali,

Kattidhadhu karEyali, biththidhadhu bEyali,

aanaiya balava kodali, ariyaa siriyaa  kodali,

budhdhi bevarava kodali,

uri hOgi, siri barali, siri sippaaththi agali,

HOppa edE, bappa edE ellaa, oLLiththE barali,

nooru thumbi, naadu jaradhu, dheera pooraNa aagi,

OLLiththa Eththi, Hollava ThaLLi, olagodho ellaava Gedhdhu,

sangatta salippu illaadhe,

hoppa dhaari, Bappa Dhaari yo, edinjilu iLLaadhe,

padippEri mundhuga hesareththi,

kumbE kudi haradha engE, angaalu muLLu muriyaadhE,

kO endhu korachchi, bO endhu bokki,

ManE thumba makka hutti, gOttu thumba sosE kondu,

paava pariya nOdi, olagadha hesaru eththi

badhukki baa

ஒந்து, ஒம்பத்து ஆகலி,
ஒந்து, சாவிர ஆகலி,ஹரச்சவ கொடலி, சொகவ கொடலி,
பண்ட ஹெச்சலி, பதுக்கு ஹெச்சலி,
பே ஹெச்சலி, ஹாலு ஹெச்சலி, ஹண்ணு ஹெச்சலி,

மனே கட்டி, மாரு கட்டிலி,ஒந்து மனே, சாவிர மனே ஆகலி,

பெண்ணே பெட்டு ஆகலி, துப்ப தெப்ப ஆகலி,ஹுல்ல முட்டிலே ஹூ ஆகலி, கல்ல முட்டிலே காய் ஆகலி,ஹொன்ன முட்டிலே சின்ன ஆகலி,

பெட்டதுது பந்தலேயு, பெரலுக அடங்கலி,அட்டுதது பந்தலேயு, ஆங்கை அடங்கலி,

கட்டிதது கரேயலி, பித்திதது பேயலி,

ஆனைய பலவ கொடலி, அரியா சிரியா கொடலி,புத்தி பெவரவ கொடலி,

உரி ஹோகி, சிரி பரலி, சிரி சிப்பாத்தி அகலி,

ஹோப்ப எடே, பப்ப எடே எல்லா, ஒள்ளித்தே பரலி,

நூரு தும்பி, நாடு ஜரது, தீர பூரண ஆகி,

ஓள்ளித்த ஏத்தி, ஹொல்லவ தள்ளி,

ஒலகொதொ எல்லாவ கெத்து,சங்கட்ட சலிப்பு இல்லாதெ,

ஹொப்ப தாரி, பப்ப தாரி யொ, எடிஞ்சிலு இல்லாதே,

படிப்பேரி முந்துக ஹெசரெத்தி,

கும்பே குடி ஹரத எங்கே,

அங்காலு முள்ளு முரியாதே,

கோ எந்து கொரச்சி,

போ எந்து பொக்கி,மனே தும்ப மக்க ஹுட்டி, கோட்டு தும்ப சொசே கொண்டு,

பாவ பரிய நோடி, ஒலகத ஹெசரு எத்தி

பதுக்கி பா

English Translation

Let  prosperity/good deeds increase nine folds,[ondhu – one, ombaththu – nine, aagali – happen]

Let a prosperity increase a thousand times, [saavira – thousand]

Let good health and happiness be bestowed[haracha – health, soga – happiness, kodali – given]

Let the cattle wealth / livestock (number of buffalows and cows) increase[banda – cattle]

Let wealth  increase[badhukku – wealth]

Let the (sown) crops increase[bay – crops)Let the milk (yield) increase[haalu – milk]

Let the fruits increase[hannu – fruits]May you build (your own) a house[manay – house, katti – build]

May you get married[maaru katti – marriage]

Let one house become a thousand[may your family increase]

Let the butter [yield] grow to a mountain,[bennay – butter, bettu – mountain]

Let ghei (clarified butter) made become large like a well[thuppa – ghei, theppa – well]

Let grass turn to flowers and stones to fruits when touched[Hullu – grass,muttilay – touched, hoo – flower, kallu – stone , kaai – unripe fruit]

Let iron turn to gold[Honna – iron, sinna – gold]

Even if trouble comes in huge amount like a mountain, let it be contained in a finger[betta – mountain, bandalay – coming, beralu – finger, adangali – contained]

Even if trouble comes like a deep valley, let it be contained in the palm (fist)

Let the tied cow give milk,[kattidhadhu – tied, karayali -milking]

Let whatever is sown ,grow well[biththidhadhu – sown, bayyali – grow well]

Let the strengh of Elephant be bestowed (on you)[Aanay – elephant, bala – strengh]

Let a lot of happiness be given,[siri – happiness]

May you become intelligent and wise[budhdi – intelligence, bevara – wisdom]

Let jealousy vanish and happiness prevail[uri – jealousy /envy]

Let happiness increase many fold [sippathi – manyfold]

Let only good things happen wherever you go and come[Hoppa – going, bappa – coming, eday – place, olliththu – goodness]

Let you live to be a full  hundred  with lots of wisdom so as to make others wonder(envious)[nooru – hundred, thumbi – full/filled, naadu – nation/others, jaradu – envious, Deera – wisdom, poorana – complete /lots, aagi – become]

Take only the good and leave behind the bad[olliththu – good,eththi – take, holla – bad, thalli – leave behind]

May you win all in this world[olaga – world, ellava – all, geddhu – win]without any worries and problems,[sangatta – worries, salippu – problems/hesitation]

Let there be no hindrance on your ways[dhaari – path /way, edinjallu – hindrance]

Let you come up in life with wisdom given by education[paddippu – education, mundhuga – coming forward]Like a pumpkin plant that grows and spreads[kumba kudi – pumpkin plant, haradu – spread]

Let not thorns stop your steps[Aangaal – foot, mullu – thorn, muriyadhay – embed (in the sole)

Let your name and fame spread wide and far and called by all and overflow[korachi – calling, bokki – overflow]

Let your home be filled with children[makka – children, hutti – born]

and let there be many daughters in law[gottu – corner, thumba – full, sosay – daughter in law]

May you look after your dear and near ones[pava paria – near and dear ones]

Earn a great name in this world [hesaru – name, eththi – earn]And  live with PROSPERITY

(sources : My mother (late) Hubbathalai B.Idyammal , Appukodu Lakshmi Ammal, Balasubramaiam’s ‘Paame’, Sivaji Raman’s ‘Badaga Samudhaayam’ and own interaction with  badaga village elders)

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No articles, images and other material in this website can be reproduced without the written permission of 

Wing Commander Bellie Jayaprakash B.E.(GCT,Madras Univ).,M.B.A (FMS, Delhi Univ)

Contact : bjaypee@gmail.com

belliejayaprakash©2019

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December 4th, 2018 is the 125th birth anniversary of Rao Bahadur Hubbathai Bellie Gowder ARI GOWDER, a great Indian and a great Badaga.

Rao Bahadur H.B.Ari Gowder, the first Badaga graduate, first Badaga M.L.C & M.L.A for a long time( in the 1920s, 30s and 40s) at the time of British Raj,  had brought many reforms in/to Badaga Community in particular and the other tribals of the Nilgiris in general.

He was the leader of the Badaga community and his words were taken as final. He would preside over the Nakku Betta Badaga gathering at Nattakal near Kotagiri, known in Badaga as “KOOTTU”.

Ari Gowder was honoured by the British Empire on many occassions.

May 15th is Badaga Day and is celebrated as Ari Gowda day.

Ari Gowder’s father Rao Bahadur Bellie Gowder was the engineering contactor responsible for laying the Nilgiri Mountain Railway from Mettupalayam to Ooty (the work was completed in 1908).After his death in 1935, Ari Gowder was the Railway contractor of this sector till his death in 1971.

Ari Gowder lead the Indian contigent (yes, “INDIAN CONTIGENT) to World Scouts Jumboree held in Budapest in Hungary in 1932.

Being a great philanthropist, he had done a lot for the betterment of Badagas and other tribal communities of the Nilgiris. He was instrumental to establish Nilgiri Co-Op Marketting Society (NCMS) at Ooty, to save the small farmers-especially Badagas- from the exploits of middlemen & traders at  vegetable mandis in Mettupalayam. 

He was also the Nilgiris District Board Chairman and the (road) bridge built in 1936 connecting Tamil Nadu and Karnataka states at Kakkanalla, Masinagudi (Guladur) is named as Ari Gowder bridge.

He was the President of NCMS for more than 30 years, till his death and during his time, NCMS was considered as one of the best co-op societies in India. His statue has been erected in the NCMS at Ooty in appreciation of his great work for the society.

Since he donated the land, the road in front of Mambalam Railway Station in Chennai (Madras) is named after him (known as Ariya Gowder road). 

On this day we bow our heads in reverence and respect to this great Indian and Great Badaga !