Credits: Shri Mir Ali Mir Famous litterateur of Chhattisgarh
It has been our culture to celebrate the festival of greenery produced by our hard work as Hareli Tihar. From the agricultural era till today, greenery is in our body and mind. According to the cycle of nature, when the cool drops of Ashadh fall in the scorching heat of Jyeshtha Vaishakh, then people who have settled in the sweet fragrance of the soil are immersed in the imagination of greenery. By the way, Akti (Akshay Tritiya) of Vaishakh, Rajutiya (Rath Yatra) of Ashadh and Hareli of Shravan month seem to be the major festivals of farmers, laborers and pauni-pasari, only then the farmers with the hilt of Nangar, with their hard work, make the earth ring. does.
After continuous hard work, there is a desire to remove the fatigue in the body, celebration and good luck in the mind. Utsav and Mars bring happiness, the seeds of Navankur blossom in the body and mind. Farming contains the essence of life, a body scented with the smell of sweat, gives a different pleasure.
Kart Kisani Chale La Nangar Perat Rahibe Jingi Bhar Janger.
Hareli, breaking the darkness of the new moon, gives the message of illuminating life with new light.
Greenery attracts everyone’s mind-
Cow has been the basis of our agricultural culture. From producing food to saving it in the kothi, we have to preserve our folk traditions.
In Hareli – (1) On the day of Hareli, a dough made of rice flour mixed with herbs is fed to the cattle. The scientific aspect of this is that the cattle should not suffer from any infectious disease during Chaumas.
(2) The basis of sustenance is agriculture and livestock – here there is land, water, fire and sky, only then should laws be made for the worship of the new sprout on the earth covered with greenery.
(3) Agricultural implements – Nangar, Koppar, Rapa, Kudari, Hansiya and all the agricultural implements are taken into the pond and cleaned them. Cleaned instruments are smeared with oil and decorated near Tulsi Chaura in the courtyard of the house and hand is given to them, after that Gurha Cheela is offered by showing hum and incense. Simplicity in worship, the rites and identity of Chhattisgarhi culture have been there. The rituals of worship are completed by applying sandalwood and tilak.
(4) Raut, barber, blacksmith, washerman and kotwar, the importance of these five increases greatly in Hareli Tihar. The soft green branches of neem are seen adorning the doors of the houses, behind which the message of taking nature’s greenery from door to door is embedded. The blacksmith drives an iron nail on the main entrance of the house, and wishes that there should not be any kind of obstacle.
(5) Savanahi- With the intention of protecting against infectious diseases spread due to rain, a cow dung circle is made in Gauthan. There is also a tradition of making a scarecrow on the wall to protect it from tantrums and tricks. At some places, the tradition of returning the tantra-mantra is also done.
(6) The fun of the gidi is a nature-given tool, in which the gidi is prepared from bamboo wood, bamboo nail and jute string. Possibly in earlier times, Gedi would have been used to avoid creatures like snakes and scorpions due to rain and mud, which gradually became the symbol of Hareli festival in the state. But nowadays, there is a different fun in playing the game. Trying to drink water while playing, carrying a cart on the shoulder and climbing on the cart with one foot, shows courage, and the farmer family of Chhattisgarh is the real synonym of courage.
(7) Everyone seems to be engrossed in the game, from children to the elderly. Betting on throwing the coconut, picking the fruit from the coconut shell, games like fugdi, kho-kho, kabaddi and delicious dishes give the real fun of Hareli.
(8) Do not ask for the taste of Cheela, Chausela, Babra and Bara in the dishes.
(9) After the formation of the state of Chhattisgarh, by promoting our culture and values, the Government of Chhattisgarh is realizing the vision of “Garhbo Nava Chhattisgarh”.
