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Gordhan
(Gobardhan)
Gordhan
festival is celebrated on the sixteenth day in the month of Kartika i.e. just on
the day following Diwali. Gobardhan means 'prosperity for cows' and seems
to have its origin in the Krishna cult.
On this
day they decorate their cows and cattle and rub oil on their bodies and
horns. The cattle are fed first of all in the morning and they are
given green fodder, oil and sugar. Cows are worshipped with the respect
due to a goddess.
The Bhils
of Malwa sing to the cattle some anecdotal songs, known as Heeda. Figures of
Gordhan are made by cow-dung on the ground and a series of earthen lamps are
placed near them. Three figures are usually made, two of which are named
Gordhan and the third one is called Chugalkhor Jamai (back-biter
son-in-law). It is interesting that these figures are made to be crushed
by the hoofs of the cattle. Women treat the day as Suhag Padwa (blessed
day). While worshipping the Gordhan, women of Malwa sing the Chandrawali
song, associated with Krishna's romance. The theme-structure in this song
is about Chandrawali's husband, Gordhan.
The tribes like
Gonds and the Bhumias play a passive part in this post-Diwali celebration.
For the Ahirs, who were the cowherd community it is the day for dancing and
rejoicing. They offer coconut and rice to Kher Dev, the god of grazing
ground. They also paint their cattle, trim their horns with
tassels and put garlands of flowers and cowries around their necks.
In some
villages of Gondwana the ritual grazing of cattle is done on this day. The men who have vowed to do so for twelve consecutive years are called
'Mauniar'. During the day they must fast. They use a flute instead of
a stick when driving the cattle to the grazing ground. They dress
like men but wear feminine ornaments. The whole day they remain in the jungle,
grazing the cattle and may return to the village before dusk. Then they hang
their flutes up in the house, take off their ornaments, wash their hands and
take their first meal of the day.
It is
believed that a man who has done this grazing on Diwali for thirteen years will
be reborn as a cow, if after his death all the ceremonies and funeral feasts are
properly performed.
Bhagoriah
Bhagoriah is
celebrated just after Holi, in the month of Phalguna. Bhagoriah is held for the
selection of spouses. Besides fun and frolic, the festival provides opportunity
for taking revenge on the enemies.
Bhagoriah
starts a week before the Holi festival. Normally, it is made to coincide with
the market day of a particular place. It continues for the whole week and the assemblage shifts from one place to another, adjusting with the market days of
the other villages of the region.
From early
morning the enthusiastic villagers will come to the market place where the
Bhagoriah festival is held. Each family coming down to participate in the
festival may camp at a few places from the spot where the market is to be held.
They carry with them a big drum which is a major attraction in the festivities. Old men and women stay in the camp itself, allowing the unmarried boys and girls
to participate in the festival.
These young
people go in separate groups to and fro in the market carrying with them gulal,
a red powder. While moving about, the boys smear gulal on the forehead of the
girls of their choice. The girls too return their love by applying gulal on the
boy's fore-heads. If a girl does not reciprocate, it indicates her disapproval to
become that boy's 'ladi' (dignified woman). The willingness is confirmed by making
the girl eat 'majoom' (mixture of molasses, bhang and green colour). If the girl
swallows majoom, she automatically becomes his property. Now they fix up a rendezvous. Here the girl conveys her verbal consent and both go to the boy's
home. News of the girl's arrival is informed to her parents and if they agree,
further steps to regularise the union are taken and they become husband and
wife.
The day is also
considered to be a day for taking revenge. Challenge to one's enemies is made
when one dances in groups at the festival.
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