Farmers worship mother nature for good crops, own welfare

PIPPALDHARI (ADILABAD):  Farmers in rural and tribal areas worship mother nature and perform special pujas during sowing and harvesting of crops. A community feast is arranged for the villagers on these special occasions. The farmers offer first crop to nature and village deities before harvesting and taking it home.

Kare Ushanna, a farmer of Mamidiguda of Adilabad rural mandal, said every agricultural season, they perform special rituals worshipping the village deities and mother nature. They sacrifice goats or hens to appease the deities so that they protect them and their crop from vagaries.

He said they performed special pujas to the village deities ‘Nalla Pochamma’, ‘Bhemanna’ ( Bheemalpen) and ‘Piskula Devatha’ near their fields.

‘They keep the first jowar cobs at the sacred place and perform special puja, said Ushanna and added that they respect nature from where they get everything and they eat or cut the crop only after the first crop is offered to nature and village deities.’

The event is popularly known as ‘Vithana Pandung’ among the ‘Koyas’ while it is known as ‘Vijang Mohthur’ among the Gond Adivasis. Vijayng means seeds and Mohthur means festival. Even non-tribals worship Adivasi’s god ‘Bheemanna’ (Bheemalpen).

Adivasi Marsakola Sarangarao of Mamidiguda said Adivasi festivals were evolved around mother nature and seasons and their festivals were designed in such a manner that they have specific rituals for special occasions in all seasons in a year.

He said farmers worship mother nature one way or the other and seek its blessings for good crops and welfare for their cattle and family members.