Todas in Ooty

There are people of many tribal communities residing in the Nilgiri hills. The todas are among the most noteworthy of them. They are fair skinned people with curly hair. Most of the Todas in Ooty are still strictly vegetarians.

The people of the Toda community in Ooty speak the Toda language. This is one among the Dravidian group of language. It is an oral language and has no script. The people of this community follow a traditional way of life. They have a very vibrant and distinct culture of their own.

The Todas of Udhagamandalam live in traditional huts. These barrel shaped huts are built mainly of bamboo,cane and grass. The most striking feature of these huts are that they do not have any window. There is only one small door in it. A Toda village, also known as 'mund', comprises of many such huts.

The Todas of Tamil Nadu have their own distinct religious and social ceremonies. These festivals are celebrated with their songs and folk dances. The Elders are respected very much in the Toda community and are thus treated will special care during the fairs and festivals.

Todas are also popular for their handicrafts. The most famous among them are the shawls

It is believed that the Todas of Ooty came in contact with civilization for the first time when John Sullivan visited the place in the year 1819. He built the Stone House on a patch of land that was purchased from the Toda people of the region.

Presently there are only about 1,100 Todas in Ooty.

Last Updated on 9/20/2011