Asifabad: Adivasis to celebrate Jangubai Jatara from January 4

Kumram Bheem Asifabad: Ethnic tribes or Adivasis geared up to celebrate the month-long Jangubai Jatara, an important religious and cultural affair of aboriginal tribals slated for the first week of January. They revere the deity at a cave temple in Sahyadri hills in the forests of Mukdamguda and Kotaparandoli villages in Kerameri mandal and the […]

Kumram Bheem Asifabad: Ethnic tribes or Adivasis geared up to celebrate the month-long Jangubai Jatara, an important religious and cultural affair of aboriginal tribals slated for the first week of January. They revere the deity at a cave temple in Sahyadri hills in the forests of Mukdamguda and Kotaparandoli villages in Kerameri mandal and the Telangana-Maharashtra border.

The Raj Gonds and Kolams belonging to eight phratries from several parts of Telangana and neighbouring Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, congregate at the holy place and worship the deity, following their age old customs for a period of 30 days. They present cultural programmes and traditional dance forms as part of the colourful festivities.

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The devotees arrive at the cave using different means of transit including auto-rickshaws, trolleys and bullock carts. Some of them living in Indervelli mandal come to the sacred spot by foot, trekking long distances. The lesser known Kotaparondholi and Mukdamguda villages come alive with the presence of thousands of tribals during the holy month.

Jangu Patel, a member of the jatra organising committee, said the festivities will begin with tribals performing ‘Devve Niruswal’ or lighting of the lamp which represents the deity at the temple on the onset of Pushya or Poos month on January 4. He stated that arrangements have been made for smooth conduct of the fair.

25,000 year old naturally formed cave temple

The ethnic tribes ceremoniously worship Jangu Bai, who according to Adivasis, is believed to have been formed naturally some 25,000 years ago. They congregate at the temple during the sacred Hindu month of Pushya and take a holy dip in a tank locally known as Toplakasa before entering the abode of the deity. They perform traditional prayers and certain rituals as part of the fair.

A large number of devotees carry bamboo baskets on their heads, beating drums and playing traditional instruments such as Sannayi, Kalikom and Tudum. The baskets contain ingredients required for performing the prayers, including rice milled through traditional methods, wheat, jaggery and oil extracted from either sesame or castor seeds.

They then prepare a special Naivedyam to be offered to the deity and present it to her after performing deepotsavam. Later, some devotees sacrifice chicken and sheep to goddesses Maisamma, Pochamma and Ravudk. The devotees enjoy mass dining after taking darshan of the deity and participating in the prayers.

They dance to drum beats and sounds of musical instruments and as per the customs. They meet priests after the rituals. The Gonds visit religious structures situated on the way to the historic cave temple. They worship the deity for fulfilling their wishes and before commencing agriculture activities, as per priests of the ethnic tribes.

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