{"id":29994,"date":"2021-01-10T10:03:00","date_gmt":"2021-01-10T09:03:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/no-problem-mam.com\/?p=29994"},"modified":"2021-01-11T10:08:43","modified_gmt":"2021-01-11T09:08:43","slug":"ooty-tamil-nadu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/magikindia.com\/en\/ooty-tamil-nadu\/","title":{"rendered":"Ooty (Udhagamandalam), the queen hill station of Nilgiris"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Udhagamandalam, 80km north of Coimbatore<\/a> (Tamil Nadu), is better known by its English abbreviation: Ooty. It is a hill station 2500m above sea level. Its cool climate, famous tea gardens and dense forests fragrant with eucalyptus make it one of the most popular hill stations in the Nilgiri mountains. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

The Nilgiris (‘blue mountains’ in Tamil) is a mountainous region forming part of the ‘western ghats’ massif. Its highest point is Doddabetta (2,637 meters above sea level). The Nilgiris hills have one of the highest precipitation rates in India, which gives lush forests and a diversity of flora that is one of the most important in the world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Ooty\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Tea is an important crop of the Nilgiris, but the region also produces eucalyptus essence, coffee, cinchona and sandalwood. Intensive agriculture, mainly tea, has resulted in the destruction of a large part of the primary forests. Consequently, two national parks have been created in an attempt to protect this area: Mudumalai National Park<\/strong> (north) and Mukurthi National Park<\/strong> (southwest).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Udhagamandalam<\/strong> (Ooty) is the main city of the Nilgiris, Coonoor<\/strong> coming second. Many Adivasis<\/strong> (indigenous) peoples live in these blue hills, among others, the Kotas, Badagas, Kurumbas <\/strong>and Todas;<\/strong> the latter being the best known.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Toda<\/strong> people<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\"Ooty\"
Les Todas devant leurs huttes en 1870 | Photo domaine public : archives de l’Inde<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Todas are the most characteristic people of the Nilgiris mountains. Although most of its members now live in modern cement houses, we can still visit, in some villages, their traditional semi-circular huts<\/strong> whose tiny entrance forces us to crouch down to explore the interior. Originally, the huts were built with a bamboo and stone structure covered with thatch. Each hamlet or ‘mund’ has a temple called ‘paluvarsh<\/strong>‘ which, during ceremonies, is only accessible to the priest of the community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Toda temple | Photo : <\/em>Pratheepps<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Todas are basically a pastoral people, buffalo breeders<\/strong>, but they are increasingly venturing into agriculture. The buffalo is therefore a central element in the daily life of this community. All buffalo products are highly revered and there is even a ‘divine milkman’ who takes care of the village’s sacred buffalo. According to Toda belief, the first sacred buffalo was created by the goddess Teikirshy <\/strong>and his brother even before the first Toda man and woman. This faith culminates during the Modhweth festival<\/strong> (buffalo festival in January) and during the ‘Kona Shastra’,<\/strong> the annual sacrifice of a male buffalo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Ooty\"
Newlyweds Toda couple in traditional dress | Photo : <\/em>V. Muthuraman<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Todas traditional clothes, worn today almost exclusively during special events, consist of a single piece of white fabric draped around the body (doti or sari) to which is added a delicately embroidered red and black shawl (poothkoli)<\/strong>. An attractive style that explains the popularity of this community. Another originality, women, during ceremonies make long twists with their hair that gives them a unique look!<\/p>\n\n\n\n