{"id":118431,"date":"2024-05-27T10:52:55","date_gmt":"2024-05-27T08:52:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/magikindia.com\/?p=118431"},"modified":"2024-05-27T10:52:59","modified_gmt":"2024-05-27T08:52:59","slug":"phagun-madai-the-spring-festival-of-the-adivasis-of-bastar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/magikindia.com\/en\/phagun-madai-the-spring-festival-of-the-adivasis-of-bastar\/","title":{"rendered":"Phagun Madai, the spring festival of the adivasis of Bastar"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Along with Dussehra<\/a>, Phagun Madai is another important festival of Bastar region<\/a> in the state of Chhattisgarh<\/a>. It is organized every year in Dantewada, a town located 80 km south of Jagdalpur where 60% of the population is “adivasi”, that is to say of indigenous origin. This 10-day festival, which takes place during the month of Phagun of the Hindu calendar (February\/March), celebrates spring and the rich artistic and spiritual culture of the indigenous people of this region.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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The temple of Goddess Danteshwari<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Dantewada is the city of the goddess Maa Danteshwari, patron saint of Bastar and much revered Shakti Peetha<\/a><\/strong>: mythology tells that a tooth of Sati, the consort of Shiva, fell here, hence the name of the city “Dantewada” (\u201cdat\u201d meaning \u201ctooth\u201d in Hindi).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Carved from black shale, Danteshwari represents “Mahisasuramardin<\/strong>i”, the warrior goddess with six armed arms who fights demons and restores order to the universe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Goddess Danteshwari carved from black shale<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The festival of Phagun Madai is closely related to the goddess,<\/strong> as it is said that during this festival, Danteshwari celebrates the festival of Holi<\/a> with all her divine sisters from the surrounding villages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to other sources, this festival was initiated by Sri Putra Purushottam Dev,<\/strong> the fourth king of Bastar (1468-1534 CE), in order to preserve the tribal culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The flags symbolizing the deities of the different villages and tribes placed within the grounds of the Maa Danteshwari temple<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

On the occasion of Phagun Madai, a kaleidoscope of ethnic groups from Bastar, but also from Odisha <\/a>meets at the temple of the goddess<\/strong> with their local deities represented by “anga deo”<\/a> (kinds of palanquins), “Chhatri” (umbrellas) in silver and flags. They number in the hundreds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The silver umbrella-shaped deities posed in the Danteshwari temples<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The silver umbrella-shaped deities posed in the Danteshwari temple<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Much like Dussehra Bastar,<\/a> this festival is a blend of indigenous animist traditions and Hindu rituals.<\/strong> The festivities take place in perfect harmony with the royal family of Bastar and the various representatives of the tribes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Procession with the chhatri deities<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The inauguration of the Phagun Madai festival takes place in front of the Maa Danteshwari<\/strong> temple by burying a wooden pole topped with the “trishul” (trident) of the goddess.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The palanquin of the goddess<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Every day, the palanquin representing Maa Danteshwari is taken in procession<\/strong> to the Narayan temple below accompanied by the tribal deities, the anga deo and their symbols, the flags and umbrellas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Procession with the \u201canga deo\u201d deities<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The high priest of the Danteshwari temple as well as the Maharaja of Bastar accompany the procession covered in an original headdress made of bhandarin and mogra flowers<\/strong>. In the evening, after various rituals, the palanquin returns to the original temple.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The high priest of the Maa Danteshwari temple with his \u201cflowered\u201d headdress<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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