Badagar is a corrupt form of vadugar, meaning northerner. The Badagas are an agricultural people and by far the most numerous and wealthy of the hilly area people. Many have relocated to towns and cities of the region, and earn income from urban-style employment. The Badaga have a well-organized community council called Badaga Sangam. They grow different kinds of vegetables, tea, and coffee. In the social hierarchy, they are placed higher than the Toda, Kota, and Kurumba communities.They are Hindu and belong to the Shaivite group.They worship deities of both great and little traditions, such as Ganapati, Sub-ramanya, Krishna, Hittiamma, and Mahadeswaran.

The pantheistic Hindu religion provides a very different worldview than that of the Christian Bible. To change worldview is quite difficult, but it is possible.

Perhaps some of the Badaga people, especially those that are younger, will learn of the availability of the Jesus film and other videos and recordings on the Internet. Pray the Lord will lead them to download, view, and listen and that the Lord will give them understanding.

There are some Badaga who reported themselves as Christians to the India census. Please pray these people will clearly understand what it means to know and follow Christ, distinguishing this from a mere cultural identification with the Christian religion. Pray the Holy Spirit will lead them into all truth.

The Badaga are a relatively wealthy people, and this often leads to pride. Pride is deadly, so please pray against the effects of pride in this community.