The Community That Promotes Hypogamy

The Nilgiri district's largest indigenous tribe is the Badagas. The community is different from other tribal communities in several ways, mainly because of their customs and practice that stands at odds with traditional norms set by society. They accept hypogamy, hypergamy, polygyny, and many more.

(Badaga Family) - Badagas - Source: Wikipedia

The Badagas are a significant Nilgiri Tribe and they have a very unique and complex culture. The tribal practices that Badagas still use to celebrate life-cycle ceremonies demonstrate that they have their own unique tribal culture in the Nilgiri hills. They are one of the oldest tribal communities and their custom is known for their uniqueness which highlights that marriage is acceptable between the upper or lower caste/social standards.

A cross-cousin is the preferred marriage match, especially the daughter of the father's sister or mother's brother. However, more distant relatives are permissible as long as clan exogamy is adhered to. In addition to this, the Badagas have several odd rules for Hindus. The most amazing thing about this is that both homogamy (to marry someone of a lower social and economic class than their own) and hypergamy (to marry someone of a  higher social and economic class than their own) are permissible. Although marriages between couples from different status clans can happen, it doesn't matter whether the groom is from the higher or lower clan in these situations. Men's generation level is recognized as a distinctive characteristic; women's generation levels can fluctuate if they marry successive husbands from various generations. Theoretically, a man could wed a woman and her daughters and granddaughters at the same time—but for his own children. As a result, all three wives would become equal to their husband's generation.

It is not at all uncommon for old men to marry women younger or older than them. A dowry was not a customary component of the Badaga marriage preparations, but it has recently become a requirement. Instead, the groom's family used to—and still does—pay a bride an amount of up to 200 rupees. This amount has increased over the years with the price of gold because it is not used to buy the girl but rather as payment for the jewellery she brings to the wedding. Every Badaga village is exogamous (out-marriage) since each clan owns its portion of the community, requiring the bride to leave her home village and migrate to her husband's upon marriage.

The newlyweds always settle down in the husband's birth village, either in a brand-new home constructed nearby or under his father's roof in a patrilocal (couple lives in the husband's home or community) extended family. Until the first child's birth, when they plan to buy their own house, they frequently sleep in a little chamber constructed on the father's porch. The married women never live with their parents, even though the wife may frequently visit them for brief durations, especially while giving birth.

For women in the community divorce, and remarriage are socially acceptable. Widows can remarry without receiving negative feedback. Children and all assets belong to the spouse in a divorce, which is extremely common.

The Badaga tribe follows their own rich and varied customs and promotes a lot of concepts that aren't considered common  in  society i.e. acceptance of hypergamy, hypogamy, polygyny, etc. Additionally, the community also stands as a reflection of modern concepts in a traditional setup. To look back in time and understand why such traditional values were practiced is something for all of us to contemplate.  True appreciation and recognition must be given to such hidden communities and their values.