Hethai habba falls on the 1st Monday or Sovara (as in Badaga language - the day considered to be the most sacred among the Badagas ), after the full moon or Hunnaway jina (as in Badaga). This year (2010) it falls in the 3rd week of December. The dates for the same will be updated soon.
Male members from various hattis (Villages) go to the hehai gudi (hethai amman temple ) by foot to Pethala or Beragani. Both these places are considered to be the sacred or house of God Hethai. Men who go on this holy walk are dressed in Mundu, Badaguru Seelai (shawl), Mandrae (Head cover) along with the holy dhadi (stick). There are other places too where hethai habba is celebrated like Jagathala, Karakorai, Kookal, Irupugal, Ketti, Nanjanadu.
These men walk those various villages to reach their destination. Other individual's from various hattis from around the district pay money (25 paise) as a ritual to the temple at their hatti. This is traditionally called Hana katodhu (Paying money). There is a suthungal (a stone ) at every hatti where this is done on any one day during the hethai amman festival. This kannikae (offering) is then wrapped up in white cloth and taken to the various hethai gudi (to the hethai gudi to which the hatti is attached).
These men attend vairous funtions and ceremonies along their way. Every village gives a warm welcome to those who take the holy walk to the hethai gudi. As they proceed many men, women and children stand alongside to send them off. They also spread Bellae Mundu (white sheet) on the path and ada buthu (prostrate) to get their blessings. During this entire period of welcoming and send off the badaga athikodu - ye haw hao is uttered loudly by all.
During hethai habba anna thanam (Food) will be served to all of them who attend the festival. Lakhs of badagas will throng these villages during the festival period. All men and women are dressed in white. A sea of white can be witnessed in & around the Kotagiri and Coonoor towns during this period. On the Pethala hethai habba Hethai amman is show to all. This happens only once during the entire year. Otherwise, predominantly the hethai kodae (umberalla) is taken along during these festivities. Sinnatha kodae (silver umberalla) is popularly given as kanikae by some devotees, some offer rice grain, vegetables etc for the temple.
Every Badaga must attend these festivities without fail during the month of December and get Hethai's blessing.
May the all powerful Hethai Amma bless one and all.
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