Badagas

The Badagas are an indigenous community concentrated in the Nilgiri district of Tamil Nadu, India. They are most numerous in and around Udhagamandalam (Ooty) and in neighboring towns such as Coonoor and Gudalur. The Badaga language is a Dravidian language spoken by the community, with influences from Kannada and Tamil; many Badagas are also fluent in Tamil and English.

Culture and society: The Badaga maintain a distinct cultural tradition, including traditional dress and a repertoire of folk music and dances connected to agricultural cycles and local religious observances. They are predominantly Hindu, venerating a range of village deities and ancestral spirits, and follow customary practices in marriage, kinship, and community life. Historically, they organized themselves in village settlements with clan-based social structures and local assemblies to manage land and resolve disputes.

Economy and daily life: Traditionally, the Badaga economy has been agrarian, with cultivation of crops suited to hillside terraces such as millets, maize, and vegetables. The Nilgiris region’s plantation economy has also provided employment in tea and other agro-based activities. In recent decades, education and diversification into government and private sector jobs have become more common among Badaga families.

Contemporary status: Today the Badaga community remains an integral part of the Nilgiris district’s social and cultural fabric, contributing to the region’s heritage while navigating modernization, education, and economic change.