History & Culture
Toda Tribal Festival
- Context: In the Nilgiris, the Toda tribal people renovated a traditional temple and participated in the ‘Narsners Kumbabishekam’ (Consecration) festival with songs, dances, and offerings.
About the Toda Tribe
- The Todas are one of the most ancient ethnic groups inhabiting the upper plateau of the Nilgiri Hills in Tamil Nadu.
- They are divided into five clans: Peiki, Pekkan, Kuttan, Kenna, and Thodi.
-
- They possess a unique language of their own, though it lacks a written script.
- They reside in small villages (settlements) known as ‘Munds’.
-
- Their society follows a patrilineal lineage system and is further divided into two exogamous divisions: Tharthazoll and Theveioll.
- Their primary livelihoods are buffalo rearing and traditional embroidery work.
- Their unique embroidery crafted on white cloth using red and black threads—was granted a Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2013.
- Every year, at the end of December or the beginning of January, they celebrate a buffalo festival known as ‘Modhweth’.
