BADAGA COMMUNITY
Chronologically, the Badagas may be said to stand midway between the old and the new the advent of the Todas to the hills some eight hundred years ago and the occupation of the district by the British at the beginning of the 19th century. The name Badaga, which has been spelt as it is pronounced, Budaga, and corrupted to burgher, literally signifies, "Northener". They are a tribe of the Karnarese of Mysore, and without doubt, their migration from North (Badaku) accounts for the origin of their name. Compared with the other hill tribes, the outstanding characteristic of the Badagas is their progressiveness. In intelligence, and adaptability to European methods and occupations they are far superior. Their dwellings, cultivated lands, and general mode of life, all manifest this superiority. As in number they are about six times as strong as the remaining tribes put together, they chiefly represent the natives of the Hills – a virile, wholesome, and industrious people. Their complexion is fair, their features are pleasant, their hair black and straight and they of medium height. The Badagas are a gentle and light-hearted people who are fond of music and songs.

The customary dress of Badaga men is a single, coarse, unbleached cloth, edged with red or blue stripes and turbans are worn. The Badaga women wear upper and lower cloths of the same material as that worn by men. Their ornaments consist of brass, iron and silver. Girls of a marriageable age are tattooed on the forehead, and the chest also tattooed with lines and dots.There are number of graded castes among the Badagas. Mr. Grigg’s manual describes them into following sects: Haruva, Wodeya, Adhikari, Kanaka, Badaga and thoreya.Most of the Badaga villages scattered over the plateau, and to European eyes, they present a pleasing appearance with their neat rows of tiled, one-storied houses, surrounded by tiny fields, the houses, themselves, are built of mud, stone, or brick, and are covered with tiles. The villages of Badagas Called as Hatti. The Badaga language is a mixture of Kanada and Tamil. Though there is no script for this language, it has a fairly rich oral literature, poetry, songs, and prayer charts.The Badagas are Hindus of the Siva sect, the shrines and temples of them are numerous. They celebrate festivals like Hethe Hubba, Deva Hubba, Dodda Hubba, Sakklathi Hubba, Jadeswami Hubba and Mangkali Hubba. They also celebrate the major Hindu festivals like Divali, Pongal, Ayutha Pooja, etc.Agriculture: Particularly potato cultivation was the most popular occupation of the Badagas for a long time, and peas, garlic, korali and samai are the cereals mostly grown, these forming their staple diet. They also keep large number of cattle, and sell a good part of their dairy produce to Europeans.Like all the hill tribes, the Badagas are not in any sense of the word an aggressive or hostile people.