Chhattisgarh State PCS

• 09 Aug 2021

Bastar Dussehra Begins with Pat Jatra

Why in News

• On August 08, 2021, the world famous 75-day Bastar Dussehra festival started with Pat Jatra Puja Vidhi in Chhattisgarh.

Key Points

• Like every year in Bastar, this year also Dussehra started with the first ritual of Patjatra on Hareli Amavasya.
• Patjatra Bastar is the first important ritual of Dussehra, in which the sal tree wood (Thurlu Khotla) brought from the Machakos forest is traditionally worshipped in front of the Danteshwari temple.
• The first wood of Bastar Dussehra occasion is called Thurlu Khotla and Tika Pata in the local dialect.
• According to the tradition of Bastar Dussehra, in the worship of Patjatra, the Majhi-Mukhiya reaches Sirhasar with the worship material on behalf of Bastar Maharaj and performs Patjatra and other worship rituals.
• It is noteworthy that Bastar Dussehra was started by King Purushottam Dev in 1408 AD. He dedicated the four wheels of the chariot to Lord Jagannath and remaining 12 wheels to Mother Danteshwari while dividing the chariot of sixteen wheels he got as a boon from Jagannath Puri.

First festival of Chhattisgarh: Hareli

Why in News

• On August 08, 2021 the first festival of Chhattisgarh region 'Hareli' was celebrated with gaiety.

Key Points

• Hareli festival is considered to be the first festival of Chhattisgarh, which is celebrated every year on Hareli Amavasya in the month of Sawan.
• This festival has a special significance for the farmers of Chhattisgarh. After the sowing of paddy, all agricultural and iron tools are worshiped by the farmers on the day of Hareli.
• On the day of Hareli festival, a special dish of this festival 'Cheela' is prepared in homes. Tools are worshiped by offering 'Cheela' in it, after which it is given to the members of the house as prasad.
• On the day of Hareli, men make a Gedi (made of bamboo) and climb on it. In some places, horse races are also organized.