Carefully handcrafted by the Toda tribe of Tamil Nadu, this long-boo bow stave is a well-known traditional weapon that showcases the preparations and practices of this tribe towards their bamboo craft and hunting. The stave, or much of it, has two narrow ends while its middle section tends to be quite broad compared to the rest of the stave. The inner part of the stave has a very deep, long groove that not only adds to the structural integrity of the bow but also enhances its flexibility and performance.
The split bamboo strip is then tied to the stave with the help of thread and secured to the bow using the string. Along the stave, one can see six remains of nodes dotting the stave at regular intervals. These are likely used to keep balance and perhaps tension on the bow. Notches are carved at both the narrow ends to hold the bowstring securely in place.
This is a bow used for hunting by the Toda people. It will be unlikely to take such a bow for ritualistic practices, although it may be further incorporated into symbolism that gives some of these meanings to the use of the bow in the tribe. The work put into the bow obviously stands witness to the depth of attachment that the tribe members have with their surroundings, where they make very good use of available natural resources. This will happen to be a tool for survival and an important legacy of the Toda people in terms of culture and spirituality.