It is a common social etiquette in Indian culture to remove footwear and enter the house barefoot as the homes are regarded as holy and abode of Hindu Goddess Lakshmi.
Yet there is actually a village in Tamil Nadu where residents are imposed to walk barefoot and use no footwear at all. And by any chance, if someone is found wearing any footwear, they are punished.
Named Vellagavi, this small village situated amid the forest cover in Tamil Nadu is very near to Kodaikanal. Over a hundred families live here with no roads to reach the village, one has to complete a difficult trek that too completely barefoot.
There is a huge tree in the entrance of the village which is considered sacred and so being worshipped. This marks the point from where no one can proceed barefoot because of the religious beliefs of the residents.
Why do the Tamil Nadu villagers walk barefoot?
The villagers believe that Vellagavi is the home of God, and therefore no matter how hot or cold or rough it is outside, no one can be seen wearing slippers or shoes. People assume that if someone goes against this belief, their deity will get angry.
However, the only exception are the elderly people in peak summer afternoons.
The customs don’t end here. The whole village goes to sleep at 7 PM as there are many restrictions. Nobody is allowed to talk loudly, listen to music, or play any disturbing sound.
What’s amazing is despite such restrictions, the people of the village remain happy for about 300 years or so.
There are more than 25 temples in Vellagavi built between the houses till the end of the village. The way people have built their houses side-by-side along straight rows is quite a sight, with beautifully etched kolam adorning each entrance.
People here have quite an idyllic way of living here, with farming and goat rearing being the primary occupations.
Sadly, developmental interventions from the government are yet to reach this hamlet for it has no roads, hospitals or even basic amenities. There is only one small tea and supply shop. Everyone has to travel to the nearest town or Kodaikanal for their basic needs.
But the inhabitants do not let the government’s indifference affect their demeanour. They will not only greet you with a smile but also inquire about your well being if you come across any of them.
However, despite its proximity to Kodaikanal and Vattakanal, reaching this hamlet is challenging. One can only reach here after undertaking an arduous trek through dense forests from Kumbakkarai that easily takes between six to eight hours on foot that one finally manages to clinch the first glimpse of Vellagavi. It is definitely not for the faint-hearted, for the path that takes you to Vellagavi is as narrow as footfall-worn paths deep in the woods can get, and one wrong step could result in a fall deep into the gorges.
Yet the village is a heaven for people who are looking for some solitude and is a dream come true for every trekker.
With the rise of visitors in recent years, the lone tea shop in Vellagavi now offers camping arrangements, in case you plan on making a trip to this rustic hamlet of barefoot residents.
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