Modhweth Festival of the Toda Tribe: A Cultural Celebration in Nilgiris

The Modhweth Festival performed annually by the Toda tribe at Moonpo temple in Muthanadu Mund village in Nilgiri district. It is a cultural emblem of the tribe in relation to their adoration for nature and culture. The important feature of the celebration is that prayers are made for prosperity and performing traditional dances. The traditional cultural event centralises the Toda cultural aspects and at the same time promotes Nilgiris tourism activities.

Toda is a pastoral tribe of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve that practices a primitive way of living with total vegetarianism, and simple forms of cattle-rearing and dairy management. With regard to culture and tradition, indigenous people have their own style of buildings, terms on how to address each other and the practices of their religion also proved that they are indeed in harmony with nature.

Key Points of Modhweth festival

• Significance: Toda tribe annual festival Most important yearly ceremony of the Toda tribe.

• Month: Observed on the last Sunday of December, or the first Sunday of January.

• Location: Moonpo temple at Muthanadu Mund, Nilgiri district in Tamil Nadu.

• Rituals:

  • These are specific prayers made to the deity known as Thenkish Amman commonly prayed for good health, rain, and a bountiful harvest.

  • The Toda dance is performed outside of the temple.

  • The younger people demonstrate strength put in practicing lifting a greased boulder weighing 80kgs.

• Exclusion: The women do not to participate in the events.

Special Characteristics of Moonpo Temple

Architecture:

• Antique with a  thatched roof and a flat stone on it.

• The construction of this type of temple ceased long ago and this was one of the very few located in the Nilgiris

About the Toda Tribe

• Location: Originally a pastoral Dravidian tribe living in the Nilgiri area of the state of Tamil Nadu in south India.

• Settlements: Move in “munds” of 3 to 7 half-barrel-shaped thatched houses with a shared centre area.

• Livelihood: Depends only on cattle herding and dairy farming.

• Diet: Vegetarians who do not eat meat, eggs from domesticated animals, and fish.

• Religion:

• Tökisy – the goddess; Ön – the god of the underworld.

• Language: This language belongs to the Dravidian branch of the family of ancient languages.

• Heritage:

  • Abide in the Nilgiri bio diversity zone that was so recognised by UNESCO.

  • They are categorized as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) in Tamil Nadu.

Conclusion

The Modhweth Festival and about the tribal people of Todas presents the cultural dynamism of India’s tribal populations. It is vital for them to retain this practice and at the same time ensure they achieve the set sustainability goals. This illustrates the customary zero impact approach of the Toda people on the environment within the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.