A recent gathering of the Toda tribe, one of the oldest indigenous groups in The Nilgiris, took place in the ancient hamlet of Melgaa(r)sh for a sacred ritual known as a re-thatching ceremony of a Toda temple. This event occurs every 15 years and is significant in maintaining the cultural practices of the Toda community.

Key Points:

• Significance of Location: The ceremony took place at Melgaa(r)sh, the main hamlet of the Toda patriclan, located above the Ooty Botanical Garden.
• Ceremonial Attire: Men participated in traditional ceremonial shawls alongside avful, a special swamp grass endemic to The Nilgiris.
• Traditional Architecture: While modern homes have replaced traditional bamboo-vaulted structures, the temples still follow ancient building practices using local materials like cane, bamboo, and avful.
• Ceremony Details: The re-thatching ceremony consists of multiple stages, involving specific rituals such as bending bamboo (theff) and using avful for thatching, all of which are integral to the structure's resilience and shape.
• Cultural Importance: Elderly men of the clan are responsible for intricate thatching tasks and maintain oral traditions through songs during construction. The Toda culture intertwines significantly with the local environment, reflecting a long-standing connection with the natural world.
• Ecological Concerns: The availability of essential materials like rattan cane and avful has diminished due to environmental changes, including the flooding of wetlands and the rise of plantations, impacting the Toda's access to traditional building resources.
• Community Preservation: The Toda Nalavaazhvu Sangam, led by figures such as Tarun Chhabra, works actively to preserve the culture and ecological knowledge of the Todas, reinforcing their traditional practices while promoting conservation efforts.

This sacred tradition exemplifies the rich cultural legacy of the Toda tribe and underscores the challenges they face regarding ecological changes and modernity.

The celebration of Pohela Boishakh, or the Bengali New Year, takes place on April 14 in Bangladesh and can vary between April 14 and 15 in India. This difference stems from the historical nuances of the Bengali calendar, which has its roots in the 6th century.

Key Points:

• Pohela Boishakh, meaning "first day of Boishakh," marks the start of the Bengali calendar.
• The Bengali Era, known as Bangabda, began in 594 CE, making year zero correspond to Gregorian 594.
• The origins of the Bengali calendar are uncertain; some historians attribute its creation to King Shashanka of Gaur (590-625 CE), though there is no direct evidence.
• The earliest mentions of the Bangabda are found in ancient temples in West Bengal, indicating its historical significance.
• The current form of the Bengali calendar developed during the reign of Mughal Emperor Akbar, who tasked his astronomer with creating a new calendar merging lunar Hijri and solar Hindu elements, resulting in the "fasholi shan" or harvest calendar.
• The calendar features 365 days, with Boishak, the inaugural month, commencing in mid-April.
• In 1966, a committee led by Muhammad Shahidullah recommended refinements to make the Bengali calendar more precise for Bangladesh, which were officially adopted in 1987.
• This revision implemented a structure where the first five months would each contain 31 days, while the remaining seven would have 30 days, with an extra day added to Falgun every leap year.
• Consequently, Pohela Boishakh has been celebrated on April 14 in Bangladesh since the revision.
• The Indian states, particularly West Bengal, have not adopted the changes made in Bangladesh, as their calendar is closely linked to Hindu festivals, leading to an inconsistency where Pohela Boishakh could be on either April 14 or 15.

This historical and cultural exploration of Pohela Boishakh highlights the significance of the Bengali calendar and the variations that exist within the celebrations across borders.