Jadayaswamy Festival

• The Jadayaswamy Festival was recently celebrated in Tamil Nadu by the Badagas community of the Nilgiris.

About Jadayaswamy Festival

• Community Involved: Celebrated by the Badagas, an aboriginal tribal group in Tamil Nadu.
• Location: Observed in Jackanarai village near Kotagiri in the Nilgiris district.
• Significance: Dedicated to Jadayaswamy, a revered deity of the Badagas, symbolizing faith, devotion, and ancestral tradition.

Rituals and Traditions

• Procession & Offerings: Eight villages organize a grand procession to the Jadayaswamy temple.
• Firewalk Ritual: Devotees perform a firewalk as an act of devotion and endurance.
• Cultural Significance: The festival preserves Badaga heritage and strengthens community bonds.

About the Badagas

• Settlement Pattern: The Badagas live in villages called “Hattis”.
• Language: They speak Badugu, a distinct Dravidian language.
• Occupation: Primarily engaged in agriculture, cultivating crops like millets, potatoes, and tea.