Tribal Worship
Hurmur in the Utmur taluk of Adilabad district is inhabited by Pradhans
and Gonds. It has Akipen, Avul pen, Masoba and Sathi pen deities
located outside the habitation area.
Akipen, the guardian deity of the village,
is worshipped at the time of the sowing. It is represented by
two small wooden poles fixed to a big pole with a white flag. While
installing the deity, some leaves are placed beneath it. The
day for the festival and ceremonial rites is chosen according to the
convenience of the village elders. This deity is worshipped
for the successful germination of seeds. A fowl or a goat is
sacrificed and prayers are offered for a good harvest. The ceremony
concludes by midday and the villagers sow seeds immediately afterwards.
Avul pen also called pochamma is worshipped
in the month of Chaitra and Shravana toward of epidemics. A
goat is offered to the deity and its meat is distributed equally among
all the house holds in the village. Newly - married couples
worship the deity for a happy and prosperous married life.
Masoba the boundary deity represented by a
triangular stone is worshipped during the Dussehra festival.
A goat is sacrificed to the deity and its meat is distributed. The
village deity, Satti pen is worshipped in the month of November.
Soon after the harvest on a convenient day all the villagers place
a small quantity of their new crop before the idol and invoke the
deity to bless them with prosperity. The villagers cook and
eat only after the Puja is over.
