Dhamtari fair.
Traditional Dev Madai has been organized in Dhamtari, Chhattisgarh. On this occasion, Gods and Goddesses of 52 nearby villages arrived. During the Madai fair, thousands of women and then people of Baiga tribe passed over the temple of Maa Angarmoti Mata for the happiness of their children. This is called Parana.
It is believed that by doing this women are blessed with a child. To perform the ‘parana’, women carried lemon, coconut and other puja materials on their stomachs. The number of women getting married is increasing every year. Last year, 300 women had made a vow. This year, more than 1000 women had come from Chhattisgarh and other states to ask for vows.
Actually, Madai Mela was organized on the first Friday after Diwali. Deities from 52 villages participated in this fair. Jivarakhan Marai, President of Adishakti Maa Angarmoti Trust, said that Maa Angarmoti is Vanadevi, who is also called the clan goddess of Gonds. Thousands of years ago, Mother Adishakti Angarmoti was seated on the banks of Mahanadi and on the borders of villages Chanwar, Batrel, Kokadi, Koralma, and was worshiped by the people of the area as per rituals.
Mother Goddess was worshiped and served only by the priests and servants of the Gond community. There is a centuries-old tradition of organizing Dev Madai Fair on the first Friday after Diwali. Which is being performed after being reestablished in Gangrel. On the day of the fair, a large number of childless women reached the court of Maa Angarmoti and paid obeisance to Maa. Devotees believe that Mother Goddess herself enters the body of Sirha and visits the fair.
More than 1000 women made a wish
Madai day is the most special day of the whole year in the area. Hundreds of people reach here on this day. Pujas and rituals are performed with tribal traditions. This year, more than 1000 women came here to pray for the birth of a child. On this occasion, women stood in a queue in front of the temple holding coconut, incense sticks and lemon in their hands.
Baiga walked over the women lying on the ground. People say that all the Baigas on which the Goddess rides also come here. They move towards the temple in a slightly delirious state, dancing and dancing. There is echo of drums all around. Seeing the Baigas coming, all the women standing in the queue opened their hair and lay prostrated on their stomachs and all the Baigas passed over them. So that they can get the blessings of the mother and they can get the happiness of having children. It is being said.
Angarmoti is the mother of 52 villages
According to ancient stories, Mata Angarmoti is called the goddess of 52 villages. People of these villages, in case of any problem or problem, go to Mother Angarmoti and make a wish and when the wish is fulfilled, they perform a special puja of the mother on Friday. Especially childless women come to Mata’s court with a request for maternal happiness, to which Mata gives her blessings.
After the announcement of construction of Gangrel Dam in 1965, the villagers of 52 villages of Vananchal were displaced and a large reservoir of Chhattisgarh was constructed. Then all the villagers living in this area moved to another place. After 52 villages were submerged, in 1974-75, Mata Angarmoti was brought to village Khidkitola by bullock cart with the priests and devotees. It was re-established on the banks of Gangrel after the suggestions and mutual discussion of Gond community leaders.
This surprising belief
However, in the present era where people resort to modern test tube and IVF technology to have a child. So at such a time this belief is surprising. Here the faith of women towards their mother is increasing. Apart from Chhattisgarh, women from other states also come to this Madai fair to seek the blessings of the mother, whose glory is immense.
(Report: Suraj Sahu)