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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.
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