‘Mawali Parghaav’ ritual organized in Bastar district

Bastar. There are many rituals in the Dussehra festival celebrated in Bastar district of Chhattisgarh and many gods and goddesses including Danteshwari Mata are worshiped for 13 days. Bastar Dussehra, which lasts for 75 days, begins with Hareli Amavasya, in which people of all classes, communities and castes and tribes participate.

In this festival, immense reverence is reflected not for the Ram-Ravana war but for Maa Danteshwari Mata of Bastar. The festival begins on Hareli Amavasya with performing the Patjatra ritual on wood (Thurlu Khotla) brought from the Machkot forest.

While a son is deployed at the border with arms in service to Mother Bharati, a father, wishing for her safety, has been building chariots with weapons in the service of Mother Danteshwari for the last eight years.

The villagers of Bedaumargaon and Jharaumargaon have been doing the work of chariot making since the beginning of the world famous Bastar Dussehra festival. About 150 people participate in it.

Baldev Baghel of Jharumaargaon is also carrying forward this tradition, but along with carrying out the family tradition, there is also a feeling of affection for the son. Baldev, who served in chariot manufacturing after his father Bissu, says that elder son Gajendra joined the Border Security Force eight years ago. He is posted in Jammu and Kashmir, where he is defending the country from terrorists. Since then he has been serving Maa Danteshwari every year. Here they will stay for about 25 days and will build chariots with traditional weapons.

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