Why in News?
The Toda tribe, one of the oldest Dravidian ethnic groups in the Nilgiris Hills of Tamil Nadu, celebrated their traditional 'Modhweth' festival to mark the New Year.
What is the Modhweth Festival?
It is celebrated annually on the last Sunday of December or the first Sunday of January.
It is held at the Moonpo temple in Muthanadu Mund village, located in the Nilgiri district.
The Moonpo temple features a unique vertical spire with a thatched roof and a flat stone on top, making it one of the last Toda temples of its kind in the Nilgiris.
Rituals and Celebrations:
Prayers are offered to the deity, Thenkish Amman, for good health, rains, and a bountiful harvest in the coming year.
Participants perform a dance outside the temple as part of the celebrations.
Unique Customs:
Toda youth showcase their strength and masculinity by lifting a greased boulder weighing around 80 kg.
As per traditional customs, women do not participate in the celebrations.
What is the Toda Tribe?
Toda Tribe is a pastoral tribe of the Nilgiri Hills of southern India.
The Todas are classified as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) in Tamil Nadu.
The Toda language is Dravidian but is the most unusual and different among the languages belonging to the Dravidian family.
Significance:
Toda lands are part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, designated as an International Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO.
Their territory is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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