Stage set for Nagoba Jatara celebrations in Adilabad
The five-day annual Nagoba jatara, is an important religious and cultural affair of the Mesram clan, is set to begin at Keslapur village in Indervelli mandal on january 28
Adilabad: The stage is set for celebrating the five-day long annual Nagoba jatara, an important religious and cultural affair of the Mesram clan, at Keslapur village in Indervelli mandal on Tuesday night.
According to elders and priests of the Mesrams, members of the clan would perform Mahapuja, followed by Varuli, formation of anthills, and Satheek puja, to kick start the five-day long event at 10.30 pm. They then conduct Persapen and Banpen puja on Thursday. Bheting, introduction of new daughter-in-laws 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, to be concluded on January 31.
Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA)-Utnoor project officer Khusbu Gupta told ‘Telangana Today’ that elaborate arrangements were made spending Rs 1 crore. She stated that basic amenities such as 50 temporary toilets, 40 water tanks, sanitation, seating, lighting system and parking lots were created for the convenience of devotees. Medical department will set up a centre to handle medical emergencies.
Similarly, TGRTC will operate special buses from Adilabad, Boath and other parts of the district to Keslapur. Security measures were taken up. Around 500 policemen would be deployed to prevent untoward incidents. About 100 CC cameras were installed to keep a watch on troublemakers. ITDA will distribute cloth bags to prevent pollution. Students would operate help desks.
Water fetched from the Godavari river
The Mesrams have been camping under banyan trees near the shrine since Friday night. They will stay at the sacred place till Tuesday. They arrived in Indervelli mandal centre fetching holy water Godavari at a spot called Hasthanamadugu on the outskirts of Kalamadugu village in Jannaram mandal of Mancherial district by trekking for 150 kilometres on January 24. They set off to draw the water from Keslapur village in Indervelli mandal on January 10.
Half a dozen Raj Gond elders jump in the air reportedly after getting possessed by the Betal god. They exhibit their fighting prowess by rotating large sticks that represent the god. They later return to their native places after visiting a temple of Budum Dev at Shyampur village in Utnoor mandal, marking the conclusion of the fair.
Nagoba Jatara is the largest congregation of ethnic tribes belonging to several parts of not only Telangana, but also Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh after biennial Sammakka-Saralamma Jatara at Medaram in Mulugu district. It sees participation of around 5 lakh devotees who visit the temple and perform prayers during the fair.
Clay utensils
Traditionally, the tribal clan uses pots and various utensils made of clay and molded by a family of potters at Sirikonda mandal centre in the rituals. 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 on these pots. They have been engaging Guggilla Swamy for making the pots and pans, diyas, etc.,
Water fetched in 1,400 year-old container
They brought holy water in Jhari, a 1,400-year-old brass container used for carrying the water. They covered 155 tribal villages during the course of the journey. They trekked for over 150 kilometres to fetch the water. They tied the container to a branch of a banyan tree a stone’s throw away from the Nagoba shrine. They use the water for cleansing the idols of the shrine and performing many other rituals.
