Etymologically, Yatrarefers to travelling. The annual festival of Kandhen Budhi in Kantamal is known as Yatra because, Kandhen Budhi travels or moves from door to door of the village, meets her subjects, listens their grievances, opines remedial measures on this occasion. Villagers offer rituals to her. On many occasions, she ascends through human beings known as Barua. Though the Barua is generally a male being, he is addressed as Maa. In fact, the common people address the mother deity as Maa, who is in thebody of the male Barua. The deity speaks to the people through the Barua. Usually, the female members are prohibited from visiting the place of worship of the deity i.e. Devi Pitha in the village. So, this yearly Yatra provides an opportunity particularly to the female members of the village to worship the village deity. Kantamal is a big village situated on the bank of the river Tel. Sonepur district is situated on the other side of the river. In other words, Tel is the natural boundary, which divides Boudh and Sonepur districts. Kandhen Budhi is the reigning deity of this village. She is placed under a tree in the form of a stone. The spot is green and well wooded with fine old mango and other trees and forms a pleasing sight. It is, however, always liable to be flooded by the Tel River in the height of the rainy season. She is also established in the courtyard of the Gauntia (village head-man) in the name of Paruan Khunt. Every year, this Yatra is performed on Pousa Purnima Tithi i.e. full moon day in the Hindu month of Pousa (December-January). This Yatra begins at the residence of Gauntia. The deity appears in the human body called Barua, who is well decorated with Sindur (vermilion), Mandara flowers and Dahana. Barua may also be called a non-Brahmin priest, who carries the deity on his body. The role of Barua is normally performed by a male member. The deity i.e. the Barua starts dancing to the tune of Dhol, Muhuri, Nishan and Changur. The village priest known as Jhankar offers puja to the deity with Sindur. Dhupa, Nadia (coconut) and Arua Chaul (sun-dried rice). Jhankar is the conventional non-Brahmin priest of the village
Posted on: Fri, 19 Dec 2014 12:28:04 +0000
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