INTRODUCTION:
“Encasing Hethai’s Shawl over and tying the White Turban around
We hail to see the Seven Hethai’s.”
Year-end holiday season usually means Christmas celebration or welcoming the new year or going for a vacation or visiting their hometown. But for the Badagas, it is a time to celebrate the biggest festival of their community, which is called as ‘HETHAI HABBA’.
THE BADAGA COMMUNITY:
Nilgiris is the home of more than five major tribes and among them are the Badagas, who forms the largest population living there. The Badagas call the Nilgiris as ‘NAKUBETTA’, which is the ‘LAND OF THREE NADUS’ and ‘ONE SEEMAI’. They are
‘THODANADU SEEMAI’,
‘PORANGADU SEEMAI’,
‘MEKUNADU SEEMAI’
‘KUNDA SEEMAI’.
The Badagas live in villages called as ‘HATTIS’ and agriculture forms their main occupation. The Badaga customs and traditions are known for their simplicity and hospitality.
HETHAI HABBA:
The main festival of the Badagas is the ‘HETHAI HABBA’ and the main deity for the Badagas is the Goddess ‘HETHAI AMMAN’. The ‘HETHAI HABBA’ is celebrated for a period of eight days. It usually occurs during the end of December or the beginning of January. Every year the ‘HETHAI HABBA’ is celebrated in a grand manner and thousands of followers come to worship Goddess ‘HETHAI AMMAN’ and receive her blessings. The festival takes place in villages like,
BERAGINI
PETHALA
JAGATHALA
DHAVANI,
NUNTHALA
KETTI
HETHAI AMMAN:
The Goddess ‘HETHAI AMMAN’ is believed to have divine powers and is a deified person. There are many traditional folklores behind the origin of Goddess ‘HETHAI AMMAN’. The Badagas believe that the origin of the Badaga community was through ‘SEVEN HETHAI’S’. It is said that Goddess ‘HETHAI AMMAN’s’ occupation was to herd buffaloes and the ‘STAFF’ that was used to guide the cattle, called the ‘HETHAI DHADHI’ is considered as the religious symbol. Even today, in Goddess ‘HETHAI AMMAN’S’ temples buffaloes are herd and are worshipped.
HETHAI KARU:
The religious followers of Goddess ‘HETHAI AMMAN’ are called as ‘HETHAI KARU’. The devotees mind and body are only focussed towards the devotion of Goddess ‘HETHAI AMMAN’. The Goddess ‘HETHAI AMMAN’S SELLAI’ (GODDESS HETHAI AMMAN’S SHAWL) and ‘MALUMANDARAI’ (WHITE TURBAN) forms a significant part in the clothing of ‘HETHAI KARU’. The blessings from ‘HETHAI KARU’ are considered sacred by the Badaga people.
HETHAI MANAE AND MAGA MANE:
The temples were the festival takes place are called ‘HETHAI MANES’. Here ‘HETHAI DHADHI’ and ‘HETHAI KODAE’ (THE SACRED UMBRELLA) are worshipped. The ‘MAGA MANE’ or ‘MADI MANAE’ (WEAVING HOUSE), where a week before the ‘HETHAI HABBA’, the cloth with seven stripes is woven. These seven stripes represent the ‘SEVEN HETHAI’S’.
SEVEN HETHAI’S:
Visiting the ‘SEVEN HETHAI’S’ is the most divine experience during this festival. The Badaga people either with their family members or with their village people or with their friends form groups to visit these ‘SEVEN HETHAI’S’ in a single day. The following places are visited to see the ‘SEVEN HETHAI’S’.
BEBBANE
EBBANAD
KOOKAL
ONATHALA
CHINNACOONOOR
PETHALA
BERAGINI
ANNA DHANA/PARUVA:
In all the villages where the festival takes place food is served, which is called ‘ANNA DHANA OR PARUVA’. It means ‘food for all’. All the people sit in lines and enjoy the food with gratitude.
WITNESSING THE WHITE SEA:
White has been the dress code for the Badagas during any function or festivals. All the men wear white shirts, white dhotis and white angavastravam (which is like a towel over their shoulder). All the women wear white mundu around their shoulders over their sarees or salwars. It looks like a white sea of people flowing beautifully to get the blessings of Goddess ‘HETHAI AMMAN’ and it is so mesmerizing to witness this sea of white.
FREEZING THAT ONE MOMENT:
People belonging to the Badaga community would never miss this festival. The reason is the idols of Goddess ‘HETHAI AMMAN’ is shown to people only during this time. That few moments when people are shown Goddess ‘HETHAI AMMAN’S’ idols, accompanied by the holy chants, all the people just dwell into the divine sea. They just capture Goddess ‘HETHAI AMMAN’S’ image in their hearts, until next time they can see this Divine Beauty. People are strictly prohibited from taking pictures of the holy idol.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
‘HETHAI HABBA’ is one festival that every people in the Badaga community look forward to. Every year the white sea of people is getting longer and longer which shows the faith and devotion of people that they have towards their Goddess ‘HETHAI AMMAN’. This year too people are waiting to celebrate ‘HETHAI HABBA’ with great grandeur.
“The white sea is getting ready,
The holy chants are going to ring in everyone’s ears,
The eyes will be filled with happy tears
When worshipping this Divine Beauty,
A memorable experience created
EVERY YEAR.”
Authored By
Samyuktha R
