Vinayaka Chaviti
This is a common Hindu festival celebrated on the
fourth day of the dark fortnight in the month of Bhadrapada. Also
known as Ganesh Chaturthi. No religious function is commenced
without invoking
Vinayaka or Ganesha, the elephant-headed God with one tusk, the
son of
Shiva and his consort Parvati.
He rides on a rat and helps to remove all obstacles in the path of
the righteous, bestowing, wisdom and success. In villages, the
earthen images of Vinayaka are prepared by goldsmiths. In towns
and cities colourful idols of Vinayaka are available in different
sizes. All members of the family take an oil bath and decorate
their houses with festoons and rangvali. The idol of Vinayaka
is worshipped with various flowers, leaves, fruits and corn.
The artisans, craftsmen and people of different professions and traders
worship the Lord and implement of their respective professions. School-going
children put their slates and books marked with Sandal paste and vermilion
near the platform of Vinayaka.
In towns and cities this festival is celebrated for nine days with
bhajans,
sports and games. Special preparations called undrallu and kudumulu, the
favourite dishes of Lord Vinayaka and his mount Mushaka (the rat), along with
payasam, the rice milk porridge, are offered as naivedyam. The floor of
the house and the doors are marked in red and white with a double pair of
circles symbolising the foot-prints of Vinayaka. Nobody is allowed to take
even coffee or tea till the worship of Vinayaka is over and the prasadam of the
Lord is taken. On the next day or on the ninth day, the image is taken in
a procession accompanied by music and with much pomp to a river tank or well and
immersed after it has been worshipped. Some people place the idol in the
bed of a tree or a vegetable creeper in their backyards so that it may melt away
in the water that is poured for the tree or plant. People avoid seeing the
moon on Vinayaka Chaveti to protect themselves against baseless accusations and
blame. This is because of the belief that Lord Krishna, while drinking
milk saw the reflection of the moon in the drinking bowl. It was as a
result subjected to the base less accusation of killing Satrajit for possession
of the Samantaka gem. In order to absolved of the evil consequences of
seeing the moon on Chaviti, people recite and listen to the legend
Samanlakopakhyana from Mahabhagavata.
Ayak or Bhimana
This
festival is celebrated by Kolam tribal inhabiting Laindiguda, Utmur Taluq
Adilabad district. This falls in the Kolam month of satti. Ayak also
known as Bhimana or Bhimdev, is the principal deity of the Kolams. He is
represented by a carved wooden mace usually crowned with a bunch of peacock
feathers, a pot containing pher or a belt of bells, marwar or anklets and small
dolls made of mud. All these are kept in a thatched shed. On a Thursday,
the relies of Bhimama are brought and kept in the heart of the village in
a small green lead enclosure. On the first day a fowl or a goat is sacrificed.
On the following day the relics of the dirty are taken to Mohamloddi, a hill
stream about eighteen kilometers from the village for bathing the deity.
After bringing back the deity to bath in the evening, a buffalo purchased
collectively is sacrificed. Fowl and goats are sacrificed by individuals
to fulfill their vows. The meat of the scarified animal is cooked and
eaten by all the people of the tribe. Before meal is served to all the
priest carrying cooked jowar mixed with the food of the sacrificed animals, goes
around the village and places small quantities of it on all the cornerstones and
comes back. The deity is taken to its original abode the following
day. This festival last for three days. It is confined to Kolam tribals only.
They do not allow people of other communities to be present at the time of
sacrifice.
