Adilabad: Mesrams begin Nagoba Jatara, the second largest tribal fair in Telangana

The Mesram clan of aboriginal tribes in Adilabad has started preparations for the five-day Nagoba Jatara festival. Rituals include fetching sacred water from Godavari, performing Mahapuja, and worshipping deities, attracting tribal devotees from Telangana, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh

Adilabad: Mesrams, a clan from aboriginal tribal communities initiated the process of worshipping Nagoba or serpentine god or Nagoba Jatara, a five-day long important religious and cultural affair of these people with the onset of new moon.

A decision to this effect was made by elders, priests and members of the clan who convened a meeting on the premises of Nagoba temple at Keslapur village in Indervelli mandal on Monday night.

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According to the elders, priests and Mesrams decided to begin Kachur Prachar or publicity about Mahapuja slated for January 18 by a bullock cart in seven villages from Tuesday. They then place an order to buy sacred pots to be used for performing various rituals during the fair at Rajampet village in Sirikonda mandal.

Following the activity, the Mesrams would embark on an arduous task of fetching sacred water from Godavari river at Kalamadugu in Jannaram mandal before performing special prayers at Nagoba temple in Keslapur village in Indervelli mandal by trekking covering a distance of over 150 kilometers and passing through 150 tribal villages enroute.

Traditionally, they bring holy water in Jhari, a 1,400-year-old brass container used for carrying the water. Distinctively, the tribal clan uses pots and various utensils made of clay and molded by a family of potters residing at Sirikonda mandal centre.  They fetch water in the pots from a holy pond situated near the temple of Nagoba and consecrate Naivedyam or offering to the presiding deity by cooking it in these pots.

Around 100 Mesrams would ceremoniously perform Mahapuja and Satheek puja, to kick start the affair. They then worship Persapen or the great god and Banpen puja the next day. Bheting, introduction of new daughters-in-law to the deity, Mandagajili puja and Betal Puja, Praja Darbara or grievance redressal programme etc are going to be held as part of the fair.

Nagoba Jatara, a five-day-long annual important and religious affair of Mesrams, is the second largest congregation of tribals after the biennial Sammakka Saralamma jatara at Medaram in Mulugu district. Ethnic tribes belonging to several parts of not only Telangana, but also Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh visit the temple and perform prayers during the fair.