Ooty: The hills here witnessed the dawn of 2017 with the spiritual touch, tradition and joy of Toda tribal festival “Modhwedh”, a unique festival of one of the primitive tribes in the country, at their head temple at Muthanadmund near here.
It was rare coincidence that this festival of the Nilgiris Toda tribes, showcasing the rich tribal culture and tradition in the hills, fell on the New Year day this season, hogging the limelight for its uniqueness.
“This festival is very important in Toda tribal life,” said Mr. K.M.Alwas, secretary of the Nilgiris Adiwasi Welfare Association. Usually, this festival is held either in the last week of December or in the first week of January on a Sunday. Since this year it was held on New Year day, a Sunday, the festivities attained extra significance, he explained.
A. Sathyaraj, general secretary of the Toda Tribes Welfare Association, said that during this festival only the male members hailing from different clans of the Toda community, including children, come to the famed conical shaped temple called as “Moonboo”, the head temple of the Toda tribes located at Muthanadmund, for worshiping. The female members of the community keep off as they are by custom, not allowed to go to this temple during this festival to worship, he said.
“This annual festival assumes significance as Toda tribes worship Goddess ‘Thekish”, the deity at the temple and pray for well being of the world and also pray for good rains, agriculture and health” he added.
While the Toda tribal dance and songs and lifting of stones, a traditional festival of sports, by the youth evoked fascination, a good chunk of tourists too witnessed the festival celebration for its difference.
