Nilgiris observes International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples

The Nilgiris district administration and the Forest Department organized a special program at the Tribal Cultural Centre in Udhagamandalam to observe the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples.

The event showcased the heritage of the seven major tribal communities residing in the Nilgiris, including the Todas, Kotas, Paniyas, and Kurumbas. The program featured traditional music and dance performances, a discussion with community representatives regarding their traditions and issues, and exhibitions of traditional artifacts and photographs depicting indigenous lifestyles.

Observed annually on August 9, the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples—also known as ‘World Tribal Day’—aims to protect the rights of indigenous populations and raise awareness of their needs, a date chosen by the United Nations to commemorate the first meeting of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations in 1982.