• Indigenous people of the Nilgiri Hills, Tamil Nadu.
  • Known for their distinctive culture, pastoral lifestyle, and unique traditions.

Lifestyle and Housing

  • Pastoral Community: Specialize in buffalo herding.
  • Dwellings: Live in semi-barrel-shaped huts made of bamboo and grass.
  • Depend on natural resources for their livelihood.

Language

  • Speak the Toda language, a part of the Dravidian family.
  • Rich oral traditions with no formal script.

Religious Practices

  • Buffaloes hold a sacred status.
  • Worship conducted in dairy temples central to their rituals.
  • Rituals involve milk offerings and prayers for harmony and prosperity.

Morbarth Festival

  • Celebrated annually to mark prosperity and agricultural cycles.
  • Highlights:
    • Worship of buffaloes.
    • Traditional dances, rituals, and community feasts.
    • Promotes unity and well-being.

Conservation Status

  • Recognized as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) by the Government of India.
  • Conservation efforts aim to preserve their culture, language, and heritage while ensuring sustainable development.