Over 100 Toda tribal men gathered together to lead a chariot procession on the festive occasion of Arudra Darshan at the ancient Sri Bhavaneeshwarar temple near Ooty.
The Nilgiris: The 111th annual Arudra festival of the Toda tribe kick-started on Wednesday at the ancient Bhavaneeswarar Temple located on the road from Ooty to Muthorai Palada. The festival is celebrated annually in the month of Margazhi.
The Nilgiris District Collector, S P Amrith held the reins of the chariot to inaugurate the festival. The Toda tribal men, one of the original inhabitants of the Nilgiris district, led the chariot procession from the Bhavaneeswarar temple to the Ooty Mariamman temple via Ooty Central Bus Stand and Main Bazaar.
Special pujas were performed, followed by over 100 Toda tribal men in traditional attire standing in a circle at the junction of the Mariamman temple and performing their traditional dance with folded hands. Thereafter, the Bhavaneeshwarar chariot was taken up to the Coffee House junction and then back to the temple.