GROW TURMERIC: The Goddess Saraswati of Illu-Jagro

GROW TURMERIC: The Goddess Saraswati of Illu-Jagro: “ Do you know where Lord Shiva resides?”- I asked a girl at Deulghata. The child along with his family members   came to offer p...

Manbhum the historical land of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose

It was January 16, 1941 Subhas Chandra left his house from Elgin road  at mid-night in disguise. Subhas was masked as Mohd. Ziauddin-  a travelling inspector of Life Insurance Company. Sisir Bose  his nephew was driving the Wanderer car  accompanying Subhas  in the rear seat.  The car moved through Howrah,Rishra..Burdwan ,Asonsole  and reached Gobindapur-a muffasil town of the then Manbhum. It was early dawn..Subhas was sleepless  ...sooner  the car came to Dhanbad-the sub-divisional town of Manbhum. End destination of Bose was Babri Colliery of Manbhum.. the whole day to be spent in the Bunglow of his relation-nephew AshokeNath.  Ziauddin got down from the car near to the Bunglow. Sisir Bose entered alone and talked to Ashokenath in details about the plan. A few minutes later Md.Ziauddin came and talked with the members in English. No body doubted him. He was given shelter in the outhouse. Ziauddin alias Subhas Chandra took his last lunch in the soil of Manbhum. After the lunch,Bose took rest and nabbed.  Ashkonath went to his office as usual and back in the evening. By this time Ziauddin left the Bunglow and was on the way. Askokenath told the caretakers  that he along with his wife be on nearby tour by car  and accordingly left the  house accompanied by Sisir Bose  .  Subhas was picked up from the road. From Birali 30 kms is Gomo station. Subhas would  ride the train at mid night.  All of them halted at Dumra kalibari in a priest’s hut- 10 kms away from Gumo.  Thereafter reached Gumo.. the Delhi Kalka mail came..Our beloved Subhas  boarded into the train.  The great escape of the great soul  was from the land of Manbhum. The Gumo station has recently been renamed ‘Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’— Manbhum’s Gumo station  is the mute witness of the last journey of the hero...

Subhas Chandra had a long relationship with Manbhum.  He was under prison from 25 October 1924

to 16  June 1927.  During this period his health deteriorated. After freeing from Jail he was advised to visit Shillong for recovery. By this time his Guru Deshbandhu left the eternal world. On returning back from Shillong  Subhas came to Purulia to meet Basanti Devi. His arrival has been documented in the Weekly news paper Mukti, Purulia. Basanti Devi- the wife of Chittaranjan Das used to stay in the garden-house ‘Retreat’. Das’s mother Nistari Devi breathed her last from here. However, Subhas used to call Basanti Devi ‘Ma’.  Ma blessed Bose affectionately.  Subhas Chandra also met Manbhum Janani-Labanya Prabha Ghosh  at her Silpashram. In his first visit Subhas Chandra did not join political agendas although young generations thronged to visit him.  However, after four months from first visit Subhas Chandra again came to Manbhum. He came to Ramchandrapur village, Santuri  to attend Manbhum Zilla Political Conference. On 6^th March 1928,  he travelled a lot right from Bankura,Kenjakura,Chhatna.. Raghunathpur etc. Raghunathpur Municipality honoured him on the way.  A meeting with the public was held at Raghunathpur town. On that very day  he was with high fever. Subhas came to Ramchandrapur via Barakar road which is now renamed as Netaji Subhas Road.

Ignoring social dogma Subhas dinned with the harijans and tribal. Some of the elite groups were not happy with this.  However, it was resolved. Subhas met Rishi Nibaran Chandra Das-the freedom fighter and a true Gandhian of Manbhum here. More than 20 thousands participated during the conference.  Subhas Chandra referred to the history of Panchakot and asked the mass to become fearless and independent and ready to fight with the British. National flag was hoisted by Bose chanting BandeMataram. The whole Manbhum was mesmerized by his one and half hr.long speech. A political tie up bonded between the  great leader and Manbhum.

Subhas Candra’s third visit in Purulia had been covered in Mukti-news paper 12 Nov.1928. In fact Subhas came here to take rest but the restless public wanted him to hear him. A mammoth gathering was in front of the Union Club Purulia. The vibrant speech urging for Purna Swaraj was voiced by him in the soil of Manbhum. The same was acceped in the National Congress 1929.

Subhas Chandra Bose stayedat Jambadoba,near Bhagaat  at his relative house for about one month during 1939. 

During 1930’s Subhas Chandra was undisputed trade union leaders of Manbhum Collieries He had come to Dhanbad m sub-divisional town of then Manbhum, several times and led the labour unions..

The people of Manbhum..owes much to Netaji. There are many events here which people retrieve till now.

My homage and tributes to the great today.

Gangasagar- A revisit to Mythology

In our school days we used to recite a famous poem of Rabindranath- 'DebatarGrass'..The poem describes the difficult path of reaching Gangasagar..it also points out to the traditional sentiments of people over Gangasagar.. & the tragic narrations of how a mother lost her beloved son in the sea water..The sagar remained mysterious to me for a long period. However, later I found many of our neighbours visited and expressed their unbound satisfaction  in dipping in the holy water.  All of them went during Makarsankranti-  and they enjoyed sahi-bath and worshiped Kapildev..

Gangasagar means Makar sankranti when lakhs and lakhs assemble here for a holy dip. This is a tradition from unnown days. In purans it was said 'Ganga is always holy.. but holier in Haridwarm Prayag and Gangasagar, however Gangasagar is un- parallel  and greatest among the three'. There has been a proverb ' You have to cover all pilgrims many times but once all in case of Gangasagar. you can earn Almighty's blessing once you dip in holy water of Gangasagar'. That thoughts still prevails and Gangasagar becomes a sea of people during the Makarsankranti. uncountable people of irrespective genders  come to the beach at the dawn-Brahmamuhurta ignoring cold & wave-they worship the ist sun standing into coldwater..they make tarpan for their ancesters..they seek blessings etc.

This time I visited the sagar on the eve of Makarsankranti. I sensed what could be on that day. Already people from different states have taken position. Sadhus of different sects have set up their Akhra.. Gangasagar is now a cosmopolitan city.. banners,signboards & communications are made in hindi or other than Bengali..Hectic preparations going on..there are more number of boats/staemers plying  inbetween sagar and the main land.. the streets are repaired..flooded with light.. a joyous feeling every where..Tons and tons Hogla leaves are reaching there.. there would be thousands and thousands temporary cottages.. all are free...hundreds and hundred stalls are ready for selling goods.. you can have your choice food in the complex of Kapilmuni Ashram.. Morenumber of priests from Ajodhya are there now.. Arati is done in a serene manner..the conchsound vibrates the whole area..

Although I went Sagar for other purposes but I was in quest of knowing some history of the Gangasagar. History is scanty but mythology is abundant. Let me share some amazing mythology of Gangasagar.

The creator of the world is  the grand Brahma- Marich is his son and father of Kasyap. Manu was his illustrious son. Ikkhaku was Manu's son and his generations ruled the country and it was Ikkhaku dynasty.The thirteenth decendants of the dynasty was Bharat from which the country named as Bharatbarsa. The capital was at Ajodhya. After the death of Bharat  his son Asit ascended to the throne. Asit was of timid type. He was thrown away by rivals. Asit fled and took shelter in HimachalPradesh along with his two wives. Sooner Asit died. That time the two queens were pregnant and rival to each other. One of them poisoned  other so that the later's son can not claim kingdom in future. However, with the blessings of Chabhyan Muni nothing happened. A beautiful son was borne. He was named as Sagar ( gar-means poison).Sagar had also twin wives- Baidarvi & Saiba. Sagar accompanied by his wives made deep meditation and the Lord Shiva asked them their wishes. Baidarvi wanted 60 thousand sons while Saiba wanted one.  Saiba got her son named Asamagna. Asamnga was self styled and dictator. Sagar  drove him away from the kingdom. On the other the 60 thousand sons of Baidarvi became powerful. Sagar wanted to make Asmamedh jyanga..a horse is let free..it will move move independently without obstacle.. once it returns the Jyanga would start and the horse will be sacrificed in the name Almighty. Sagar will be the real crown of the universe. No power can bow him down.
The matter of sacrifice reached to Devraj Indra. Indra was afraid of losing his kingdom. Indra made he tricks ,he stole away the horse and kept in the Ashram of Kapilmuni at Sagar.
The 60 thousand brothers searched everywhere but could not find the sacrificial horse. At last they reached in the Kapilmuni Ashram. They found the horse tied near to his meditation field. All of them shouted and threw ill words to kapilmuni.. Their noise irritated the Muni and as soon as they levelled him as theif,  he was aggrieved   and anger came his eyes and made all of them to ashes.

In the mean while ,Bharat  engaged  Ansuman-the son of Asamnga to find out his cousin brothers and the horse.Ansuman found it in the Kapilmuni Ashram. He was well tempered and sat beside Muni while he was in meditation.  The Muni found a devotee  after the break of meditation. He was pleased with the fellow. Ansuman gradually knew everthing about his brothers. Muni told him to take away the horse and  make Asamedeth Ju\yanga. Finally , he told him to bring Ganges here and wash the ashes to turn back  his brothers.
Janga was completed. Sagar tried to bring Ganga but failed. Ansuman failed his son Dilip also failed to bring back Gangas.. time elapsed ..it was the turn of Bhagirath who made deep meditation.. who pleased Mahadev..Narayan & Brahma.. Later by his efforts the Ganges reached Sagar. With the touch of holy Ganges the 60 thousand brothers were let alive..
The meeting place of Ganges and the Sea became a pious place.
The name of Sagar as a pilgrim place is mentioned in Ramayan.

Sohrai Festival of Kurmi Community in Purulia

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Kudmi /Kurmi community is a dominant settled agricultural class in Purulia, Bankura & West Midnapore districts of West Bengal. They are also in numbers in the adjoining states of Jharkhand & Orissa. However, with the passage of time they have settlement in other parts of Bengal;particularly in Sundarban areas and even spread to Assam and Bangladesh.

Kudmis of Purulia  observe Sohrai in  religiously and merrily . It represents one of the most celebrated festivals in Purulia.  Sohrai is now a community festival irrespective of castes. It is also celebrated by the Munda tribal as well as santhals with the same enthusiasm. However, the manner and customs differ  region to region , local culture  or transformation or infusion of multi-culture gives local specific shapes to the occasion.

In Mundari language, Sohrai means the ceremony of worshipping  the deity presiding over cattle. It is celebrated on the day following the new moon after the Dasai parab. Sohara indicates the 16^th day after the Dasai full moon.  Sohrai coincides with the date of Kali Puja.

In a short, Sohrai represents the bondages between men and animals. It is a festival in the honour of cows  . The festival  has been with the community since time immemorial. No records to its origin are found. There are adages ,mythologies and stories to its origin. A very interesting story I read and putting it from my memory.

The Lord Nirakar Shiva ( Bara Pahar)  created men and provided them with cattle to harvest food with a condition that they will care the animals in a dignified way.  In course of time men  began forget  or rather disobeyed the verdicts . Cattles were put to heavy works round the year, they were subject to beating or ill-fed.  The cattle complaint to the Lord about their miserable position. The Lord promised to visit  the situation in a dark night( Amabasya). The intelligent person informed Lord’s coming in vigilance in advance to the headman. The Headman alerted to fellow members. Thus, before the Lord reached , everybody cleaned their Gosala(cowshed), decorated the cattle-shed, bathed the pets, put Shorai grass on the roof,in the premises, cows were fed with delicious food etc. Just imagine when  a head of the state or a minister visits an institution.  On seeing the arrangements the Lord returned and nullified the allegations.  Again,complaint was raised by the animals. Lord promised to visit the same.. The same results and again complaint lodged. This became a practice and took a regular feature and turned into a ceremony focusing animals.

Sohrai is of three day program. 

The first day is called Newta.  Newta signifies invitation. Newta starts with the Amabasyya. The main function of Newta is called Kachi dewa.  Pradips(earthen lamps) with four vertexs  are made of Atap rice. It is lighted with ghees. These are kept in cowsheds, in front of the doors, tulshi-manch and other useable places.  After a short period when the light is no more,the pradips are burnt in wrapped sal-leaves  and called  pura-pitha-burnt pitha. These are given to the animals and also eaten by the family members.In the mean time the horns of the cattle are rubbed with oil mixed with vermillion and turmeric. During this day, Shorai grass is collected and put on the roof  and doors of the cowshed.  This is as if Lord finds enough fodder in the house.

The second day of the ceremony is Jhahali. Garaiya puja is hold. As Amabasyya ends, the head or his representatives take fast and bath before puja. He goes to the field and bring a bunch of paddy crop on head. While he returns from the field he does not talk with any body, comes silently. After reaching home mariars are built. Mariar is the knitted paddy stalks..these are ornamental like and put on the horns of cattle or hanged on the body of the animals. Again, marries are put on the doors and other important places of the house.

In every village there is a team of Jahali Bula, who rounds the village ,knocks every house ,chants ,dances and blesses the households early in the morning. A seat of worship is marked in the right or east direction. The seat is decorated with ronguli made of atap-dust. The plow, mai,jowals ,kural accessories for cultivation are kept there. Two statues of dissimilar heights are built. They are represented as deities. Deities are decorated with yellow flowers of Sargunja on top.  Garai deity is given pithas.  Cows are also given this delicious items.  The cows are taken for bath. In the mean time ranguli (chokhpura)is marked from the entrance of house up to the cowshed. The cattle enter crossing the chokpura . They are worshipped.

In the evening the village brand team sings and dances and collects revenues for the programme.

The third day is Nimcha. Dhup-dhuna is spread on the cowshed,houses and streets to avoid evil powers on cattle. On this day the cowboy is well fed and rewarded for his service. The cows are stamped with colors.

In the evening Badna parab starts. A bull is tied on a rope and teased with a raw skin to make it furious.  Villagers assemble make shouts,beat drums to see the tolerance and strength of the animal.

This is the normal routine of Shorai.

My Love with Baranti Hills

Every time  I used to halt at a particular spot immediate after Murlu village while going  in law’s home via Santuri and enjoyed the beauty of a hill. The place is almost abandoned. I could not see anybody there ,thus I could not know the name of the hill any way. However, I had fallen in love with it. It's a panoramic view from the road side. Many times I thought to reach there but failed. This time it was unusual, I got a team of Adibasi who were on festive mood. They wore designed clothes. They had turbans on their head. Some of them were in peacock dress. Peacock feathers were glittering from their heads, a large tail was hanging from back.  Traditional musical instruments were on their hands. They were dancing spontaneously. I could not understand their words but feel their mood. Music and dance  drew near to them.

 

“ Is it Dasai ?”-I said

“ yea.”-reply came

-“ From where are you coming?”

They pointed to the hill. “we are staying at Talberia.Have you ever gone?’

-“no”

-“ Go there. You can see the dam. “

I knew  from them that my dream Hill is Bhetti Pahar. The dam is Murardi dam.

I could not check my restraint. I longed for seeing the hills and dam this time. I along with my wife and daughter started for Baranti pahar. We crossed Ambari village then reached to the Talberia-a small hamlet of tribal. Talked to some guys and proceeded towards Baranti. The road was of red mud. There was natural forest all through. The road became gradually rough as we advanced . A time reached when  journey was inaccessible . Panoramic beauty of hills we enjoyed but could not touch them. Turned back from the mouth of Baranti and started  with another route. Again back to Talberia , then came to Ramchandrapur village and  crossed Muradi and finally reached the Dam.

It is a splendid lake. A complete earthen dam. Natural storage of running water from the hills.The dam is surrounded by Biharinath, Baranti, Bhetti and Durang. Water is static here and as clean as sky color. There is no hurly burly. It is quite and calm.  Nobody is there .The place is unexplored and virgin. In a word it is awesome and majestic.

We enjoyed the beauty of Sal,Palash,Karam & neem trees. Saw Pankouri busy for catching prays. Butterflies  moving around.  Flying birds around refreshed our tiring mood. 

Sooner  the sun set down  and we enjoyed it through  the clean water plate.

Good bye Baranti. I will back to you soon.

Unattended Fruits of Paschimanchal: Custard Apple

Arsha block in Purulia is an  enviable seat of agricultural practices, innovative ideas and dry land farming.  Natural endowments are scarce to the region relative to other parts. Undulating ,rolling surface, paucity of water and inaccessibility relative to other parts of the state have given strength to the dwellers to adopt and module livelihood based farming system. From time immemorial they  are growing sugarcane under rain-fed condition.  In the harsh soil they have their own cultivars of Kulthi(horsegram). Last year despite erratic rainfall and drought like situation this crop saved them and their animals.  I saw sagrsuti -a kind of beans grown in the worst soil under worst situation  . Similarly, I have found many of them growing Ginger in the uplands.  Groundnut is also their traditional crop.There are many other crops,trees  suitable to dry tracts you can find in Arsha block or its adjoining areas. However, the zeal of entrepreneurship or business motive is seldom here.
This year I had a visit to some of the villages ,viz; Harmadi, Nunuya, Ghatiali, Goalikocha etc,where my student Biman has been doing excellent jobs in propagating WADI-mission of GVT.  under his able stewardship new orchards of mangoes, guavas etc. are coming up.  While on visiting those, I was struck to sporadic natural grown sitafal. This is locally called Madal. This is nothing but custard apple.  I was fascinated to see the sizes and flesh of these apples. I sat down to the premises of Laxmi Murmu at Harmadi. i asked her;
" how many madal trees are there?"
"three"-replied
"how many do you get?"
She was hesitant this time.  Any way she answered she sold 50 kgs last year. Thus, i came to conclude that 5 fruits equal to 1 kg. and she got 80-90 fruits per tree, obviously she and others have tasted a lot.
This is a unique fruit-crop in the area. This crop is grown in the courtyard of every house there.Commercialization is yet to be developed.
I asked how much price do u receive now. She prompted : "Rs.20 per kg,"
On hearing this Biman whispered " Sir yesterday I purchased @ Rs.60 per kilo."

I said " it is grown unattended and  sold unattended " 

Jitha Asthami- A rural ritual in Paschimanchal

 

It was the early September two years back, I was moving to Deulghata from Ajodhya Hills en route Sirkabad.  The journey was pleasant, the foothill of Ajodhya was greenery; I found upright dense sugarcane plants standing with unique configuration everywhere- I was ecstatic to see the natural beauty stretched along the road , and felt romantic all through  as well. Suddenly I saw queued motor vans, carts and matadors  , farmers hurriedly running ,their faces were not visible,  only  huge sugarcane bunches seen on  head , faces were coved with drooping leaves,  they  were busy in uploading canes  brought from the fields onto  the vehicles. I halted and met some  farmers who were cutting baby sugarcanes .

“What happened? Why are you cutting immature canes? Where will those go?”_ i asked

-“Tomorrow is Jita Asthami.. there is high demand for sugarcane plants. It is better to sell off now at high price.”-quick response came out.

I understood the importance of Sugarcane and its relationship with Jitha Asthami.

Jitha Asthami is a popular ceremony throughout Purulia. It is religiously observed across classes. Jitha Asthami brat is a strict celebrartion..this brat is a ‘Nirjala upabas’- complete fast without taking water or drinking. It is celebrated on the eight day of Aswin (Bengali calendar) for the well being of children. Married women participate in the ceremony.

Fulkumari of Dumurdihi celebrating this fast this year.   Jitaasthami brata starts at the end of Saptami and continue so long astami lasts. According to her, last year it was about 36 hours long fasting, however, the period is limited to 24 hrs this year. I inquired from her whether males could participate  in jita Asthami brata or not. She said “ in case of emergency, males do sometimes..but rare”.

The norms of celebration differs from area to area. Local customs govern the rituals. Normally,the brata as well as puja is held in the premises of household. However, in Dumurdihi, the community joins the festival.  Women in a group come to the Garamsthan (local deity) and put twigs of  karam or bat there.  Odd number of sugarcane plants are put there, it is fastened and  marked with turmeric.   An image of Jimutbahan is made with the kush.   Soaked & sprouted Kulthi, gram, rajma etc. are placed and offered to the deity. The fast is broken with taking mixed sprouted pulses. Cucumber is chewed on the moment of ending fast.

Women observing Brata receive new clothes from their paternal home.  Prasad is sent to relations .

In  Baghmundi, it is a kind of worshipping nature. Differnt types of twigs are planted at the alter of Tulshimanch. Mantras are iterated by Laya.  They recall Ma Durga, Raja Jimutbahan for children’s well being.

In Bishnupur , Devi Durga is welcomed from this auspicious day. Candles in front of the temple are lit in the evening daily till Dasami is over.

In Jharkhand it is called Jitia festival.

I wonder how mothers do  sacrifice and undertake pains for their children.