In Balaghat, mini Holi is celebrated in the name of Narbodh festival, effigy burning takes place
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The effigy of Narbodh is taken around the entire village. – Photo Naiduniya.
Highlights
Children bring Narbod leaves from the jungle and place them in every house. After this, they make an effigy of Narbod and take it around the village. Then they burn the effigy in the hope of curing diseases.
Guneshwar Sahare, Balaghat. The entire Balaghat district will reverberate with the slogan ‘Gheun ja ri Narbod… Khaansi khokhala lej ri Narbod’ on September 2. In Balaghat district, people celebrate Narbod festival after Pola festival. On this occasion, as per tradition, the effigy of Marbat i.e. Narbod will be burnt.
This festival, celebrated according to ancient tradition, is celebrated in Balaghat as a festival like Holi and Diwali. According to the local people, this festival is considered as a mini Holi. On this occasion, on one hand the markets remain empty. On the other hand, people celebrate enthusiastically in the streets and neighbourhoods.
The effigy is taken out of the village and burnt
There is an ancient belief that Narbodh festival is celebrated after Pola festival because during this time of the year seasonal diseases and epidemics are prevalent. To drive seasonal diseases and epidemics out of villages and cities, people make an effigy of it and take it outside the village and burn it. Before this, the effigy is taken around the whole house.
The demonic power was suppressed
According to the elders, on this day Krishna had sucked the poison of Putana and due to the death of Putana, the demonic power was suppressed. Therefore, it is celebrated as a festival symbolizing victory over the demonic power. The effigy of Putana is called Narbod.
After Pola festival, people start preparing for Narbod. People in cities and rural areas make an effigy in preparation for this festival. They take it to the border of the village and city and burn it. Just like Holika is burnt, people traditionally burn the effigy of Narbod in the same way.
People visit people from house to house
It is told that people visit each other’s houses and offer gifts and celebrate the festival as a festival of joy. Children bring Narbod leaves from the forest and put them in every house, which takes donations of Narbod.
This festival of local tradition is celebrated in the district as a mini Holi. On this occasion, a festive atmosphere is definitely seen. At the same time, an atmosphere of terror is also seen in this festival. There are fights and quarrels at many places.
Farmers perform black magic by planting branches of Tembhrun in the fields. This year, during this festival, people took out the effigy of Marbad and raised slogans like Narbad is going to Gheun… Narbad is taking Khasi Khokhla… Inflation witch is eating Narbad… Narbad is taking diseases from the village… and burnt the effigy of Marbad in every street and then took it out of the village and city limits.
