One of the unique traditions of Badagas is the naming of their Villages - called hatti (individual village) or Ooru (can be an individual village or a cluster of villages of a 'commune').
Generally, the names are based on a topographical feature. Prof.Paul Hockings has elaborated this aspect in his book 'Ancient Hindu Refugees - Badaga Social History 1550-1975'.
Some of these interesting names and their meanings as mainly given in the above book. Hope to cover all the 380 odd hattis.
Achinakal - Achuna + Kallu - Achu [well proportioned like 'printed'] + Stone
Akasu - Akasu -sky , very high hill
Arebennu - Aray + Bennu - Large flat rock + Upper back [shoulder]
Attubailu - Attu + Bayilu - Steep valley -place + Entrance
Bearhatti - Beru + Hatti - Roots + Village
Beraganni - Beru + Hanni - Root + Swamp
Bettatti - Bettu + Hatti - Hill + Village [Village located on a small hillock?]
Betlada -Bettalu + Hada - Betlu -threshing pole + Flat Ground [Or is it Bettalu - hunting (fighting) Hada - Ground??}
Bikkolu - Bikkay + Godalu -Olive (linden) + Valley
Chinna kunnuru - Chinna + Kunna + ooru - [both chinna and kunna mean] Small - little + village
Dhadahatti - Dhada + Hatti - Path Way + Village
Dhoddanni - Dhodda + Hanni - Big + swamp
Edakkadu - Eday + Kaadu - centre (middle) = Forest
Ekoni - Ekoni - Milky way [Head Star] in it
Godalatti - Godalu + Hatti - Dale-Valley + Village
Halada - Haalu + Hada - Milk + Flat Ground
Hubbathalai - Hubbay + Thalay - Chinese pagoda tree + Top (headland). Interestingly, my mother who is 99yrs, tells me that her village Hubbathalai was also known as Ammanalli
Iduhatti - Idu + Hatti - Dell + Village
Kerbennu - Keru + Bennu - Pond + [Curving] Upper back
Kethorai - Ketti + Toray - Ketti Village + Riverside
Jakkadha [Jagathala] - Jakkalu + Thalay - Nilgiri Berry [Jakkala Hannu (Fruit)] + Headland
Manjakombai - Manju + Kombay - Cloud + [could be a] Kuruma Hamlet [earlier]. If Kambay - then it means a ridge
Maralakambe - Marala + Kambay - [An unknown] plant + Ridge
Pedduwa - Ped + To - Big + Buffalo pen
Pororatti - Mora + Ore + Hatti - Tree + Slope + Village
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