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Arwa Teej
The festival is
specially observed by the unmarried girls in Chhattisgarh and it is held during
the month of Vaisakha. The occasion is marked by making a small canopy of
mango twigs, decorated according to individual taste.
This whole
thing is a dress rehearsal for marriage and is usually followed by feeding the
neighbours. Special songs are sung on the occasion. The most popular
songs smack of sentimental flavour which are associated with the bride's
home-coming.
In some parts
of Madhya Pradesh, Arwa Teej coincides with Akhateej (Akshya Tratiya) which
marks the commencement of the agricultural year.
Sanja and Mamulia
Unmarried
girls of north-western Madhya Pradesh annually worship a legendary girl called
Sanja. The ritual is associated with figures and designs made by girls on
smeared portions of mud walls through the medium of cattle-dung.
In the month of
Asvina, the festivities of Sanja run consecutively for sixteen days.
Everyday new designs and figures are made and in the evening songs are recited
in chorus before them.
Corresponding
to the Sanja, the girls in Bundelkhand worship Mamulia. Mamulia is
represented by a green branch of a lemon tree. The branch is adorned with
a coloured skirt and a wimple. Wild flowers are attached in each
thorn of the branch and dry fruits and sweets are hung around it. Music is
played round the branch and later it is taken to a pond for immersion.
Ghadlya
Girls have
their own feature in this festival. They gather in the
evening in groups and visit every house of the village carrying earthen pots
with holes for the light to come out, made by a wick oil lamp kept inside.
The pot is also termed Ghadlya or Ghurla which means a horse, as it is known in
Malwa.. The girls
recite songs connected with Ghadlya in front of every house. In return
they get foodstuff or coins. The Gond girls observe a similar
festival. The boy's festival is known as Chhala. In the adjoining region
of Bundelkhand, it is identified as Tesoo.
Suwata
The Suwata of
Bundelkhand relates to the Ghadlya of Malwa. Girls, in this form of
celebration prepare a mini platform along the wall with clay. The three
sides of this platform are provided with steps. On the platform an image
of a demon is made to stand. The sun and the moon are drawn on the wall to
give an idea of two brothers. On the head of the demon's image, small
images of both Shiva and Parvati are placed. Only these figurines are
invoked. Oblation of flowers and green grass blades are made to them and songs
connected with the Suwata, sung. These songs are generally attributed to Gouri, the consort of Lord Shiva.
Pandum
or Parad
Confined
to the Abujhmarias of Bastar, the Pandum festival is observed during the
community hunt. Before starting for the hunting expedition, offerings are made
by the Hill Marias for a rich game and the safe return of the hunters.
In
the month of Phalguna the other tribes of Bastar arrange hunting expeditions
which continue for many days. Ceremonial hunts are believed to help a rich
harvest of animals in the forest and a bumper crop. There are various types of
Parad. Birds are hunted in the Chidayi Parad and small animals are killed in the
Chotti Parad. In Beej Parad, weapons are sanctified and seeds are brought.
Deities are propitiated and the nature of the hunt is predicted by Perma, the
village sorcerer.
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