At the Hethai Amman Temple festival in Peragani area near Kotagiri, the native Badagas danced enthusiastically in their traditional white attire.
The Nilgiris: The native Badagas of the Nilgiris district who inhabit over 300 villages worship Hethai Amman in Peragani area as their family deity.
The Hethai Amman Temple festival is celebrated annually in the months of December and January. Accordingly, this year's festival started last week at Peragani near Kotagiri, with the main Jagathala Hethai festival held on Monday.
The festival was attended by the entire Badagas community living in Jagathala and surrounding villages, and dancing in their traditional white clothes.
Earlier, special poojas were performed to Hethai Amman, followed by a procession.
The Badaga men and temple priests, who had been fasting for 48 days for the event, participated in the procession and carried Hethai, the family deity, in a procession.
Right from the elders to the children, the Badaga community members worshipped Hethai Amman who was brought through the main streets.
The Badaga community men, carrying the sceptre in their hands, accompanied the deity Hethai Amman, all the while marching in a procession with devoted fervour.
The procession was accompanied by the members of the Badaga community who celebrated by dancing in their traditional white attire across the streets.
The Hethai Amman Temple festival is celebrated annually in the months of December and January. Accordingly, this year's festival started last week at Peragani near Kotagiri, with the main Jagathala Hethai festival held on Monday.
The festival was attended by the entire Badagas community living in Jagathala and surrounding villages, and dancing in their traditional white clothes.
Earlier, special poojas were performed to Hethai Amman, followed by a procession.
The Badaga men and temple priests, who had been fasting for 48 days for the event, participated in the procession and carried Hethai, the family deity, in a procession.
Right from the elders to the children, the Badaga community members worshipped Hethai Amman who was brought through the main streets.
The Badaga community men, carrying the sceptre in their hands, accompanied the deity Hethai Amman, all the while marching in a procession with devoted fervour.
The procession was accompanied by the members of the Badaga community who celebrated by dancing in their traditional white attire across the streets.