Badgas’ festival in Ooty draws large crowds

Ooty: The huge crowd at the roads leading to Sri Mariamman temple here with Badaga music and dancing in every corner around the temple on Monday afternoon  marked the Sri Hethaiamman car festival organised by the Badagas, the single largest ethnic community in Nilgiris, on part of the ongoing annual car festival being organized by Sri Mariamman temple at the market junction here.

Though various communities in this hill town are making their contributions to the ongoing festival of the Mariamman temple,  which started in second week of March,  the Badagas who pulled Sri Hethaiamman car on Monday has brought spirituality filled festive atmosphere with their tradition and culture.

While  temple car went around the arterial roads in the town, in the traditional style and flavor, many of the devotees took to the Badaga dance and music, a unique feature in the hills, in groups along the temple car route.