Sulia Jatra begins in Odisha’s Balangir district with conventional fervour
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By Express News Service
BALANGIR: Sulia Jatra, one of many main tribal festivals of western Odisha, started on Tuesday in Khairguda and Kumuria villages with mass sacrifice of animals amid strict adherence to Covid protocol. The Jatra takes place on the second Tuesday of the ‘pausa’ month yearly amongst eight sub-castes of the Kondh tribe.
Sources stated, the tribals marched in a procession to the ritual website at Bada Khala in Khairguda and Sankhala in Kumuria village the place all of the preparations had been made to hold out the sacrifice of hens and goats. The tribals imagine that providing the blood of animals and birds to their presiding deity Sulia ends in good harvest and prosperity for the neighborhood.
This 12 months, the 500-year-old custom noticed fewer devotees within the wake of an impending third wave of Covid-19. Chairperson of Deogaon block Reena Meher, ex-chairman Laxman Kumar Meher and Balangir MLA Narasingha Mishra had been current on the event.
Earlier, there had been a tussle between the district administration and Zilla Adivasi Sangha following Orissa High Court orders to abolish the apply and mass killing of animals. However, after the Supreme Court of India gave its verdict to respect tribal rituals and traditions, the district administration saved itself away from opposing the apply. However, the administration ensures safety preparations through the competition. Four platoons of police drive had been deployed on the ritual floor.
