Chandra Bellan belongs to the Kothar tribe of Tamil Nadu, located in the Gokal village, Ooty.
To fulfil their passions, people often let go of big rewards, which could also include high-paying jobs. Such is the story of a man, belonging to a Tamil Nadu tribe, who took the decision to quit his government job and became a priest.
As per Local18, the man is named Chandra Bellan and he belongs to the Kothar tribe, located in the Gokal village, Ooty, Tamil Nadu. He had a job at the central government’s railway department, which he chose to quit. Chandra is now a spiritual priest, following the traditions of his tribe.
In a conversation with Local18, he stated, “Even if we earn lakhs or crores of rupees, we must see our culture and tradition.” So, he voluntarily chose to retire and took the duty of his village’s priest. His father was also a priest and now Chandra Bellan is continuing the legacy, perfectly and diligently.
A significant part of the Kothar community’s belief is the Vana Pooja. According to the information given, when there is a severe drought in the region, they visit the temples of their respective family deity. They give them offerings and going by their beliefs it rains immediately after it. The temples are at a distance of 5 km from their village, located in the forest.
The members venturing out for the pooja get drenched in the downpour before returning to their homes. This is how the tribe lives in the village. Furthermore, Mondays are considered to be auspicious days for their deity, so the members do not engage in farming or any other work on the day.
Chandra Bellan spoke further, “Our ancestors lived here 300-400 years ago. I was born and raised here. We are still doing traditional work.” So, according to him, making offerings to the forest deity ensures rain.
