Non-Adivasis evince interest in Nagoba Jatara
Nagoba Jatara (File Photo
KESLAPUR (ADILABAD): Every year, the serene village of Keslapur in Indravelli Mandal comes alive with the beats of traditional drums, the reverberation of sacred chants, and the vibrant colours of tribal attire. Thousands of Adivasis and non-Adivasis alike gather here to celebrate Nagoba Jatara, a centuries-old festival dedicated to the serpentine deity ‘Nagoba.’ Declared a state festival and recognised as the second-largest Adivasi congregation in India — after the famed Medaram Jatara — this week-long event is a testament to the deep-rooted cultural ethos of the Mesram clan and the larger tribal community.
The highlight of the festival is the Mahapuja, conducted on the auspicious day of Pusya Amavasya at the Nagoba Temple. This year, it was performed on January 28, followed by the traditional Darbhar (court) on January 31. During the Darbhar, community elders hear petitions from local Adivasis, addressing issues that range from disputes to broader social concerns. It is a cherished custom that exemplifies the collective spirit and governance model within the tribe.
One of the most remarkable features of Nagoba Jatara is the traditional padayatra undertaken by nearly 100 men from the Mesram clan — including elders, youth, and children. Embarking on foot from the Keslapur temple, they cover nearly 150 km through hillocks, forests, and rural hamlets to reach the Godavari River. Their mission is to collect the sacred Gangajal in earthen vessels known as Kalasham for use in the deity’s rituals.
“We strictly follow our traditional norms and rituals throughout the padayatra,” explains Mesram Koserao, a priest of the Mesram clan. “Discipline and devotion are key during the journey and the subsequent pujas. Even today, we maintain these practices to preserve our unique culture and identity.”
Each year, the clan chooses a different route based on invitations from various villages. They are hosted overnight by the villagers, reflecting a longstanding tradition of hospitality and cultural exchange. Upon collecting the sacred water at Hastinamadugu in Jannaram Mandal, the group returns to Keslapur, reuniting with their families at the Indramai temple before proceeding to the Nagoba temple grounds.
Adivasis have long been considered nature worshippers, venerating birds, wild animals, bamboo, sacred trees, hills, and rivers. Known as Totemism, this belief system connects each clan or individual to a particular natural entity or ‘totem,’ ensuring they cause no harm to it.
“Our community’s respect for nature is absolute,” says elderly member Mesram Daderao of the Pardhan community. “We try our best to preserve this philosophy and pass it on to the new generation. Our identity hinges on our harmony with nature.”
Adding to the festive fervour is the distinctive sound of Adivasi musical instruments — ‘Kalikom,’ ‘Dhol,’ ‘Thudum,’ and ‘Pepri’ — played differently to suit each ritual or occasion. Their rhythmic beats resound across Keslapur, drawing devotees into a mesmerizing experience of song, dance, and prayer.
Meanwhile, women devotees in large numbers visit the Nagoba temple during Nagulapanchami, offering special pujas to the serpentine deity and seeking blessings for their families.
Before the Mahapuja, members of the Mesram clan engage in a series of sacred preparations — sons-in-law perform special pujas, filling new earthen pots (ordered from a traditional pot-maker’s family in Sirikonda) with water from the Koneru (temple pond). These pots are handed over to newly married daughters-in-law, who then help prepare two symbolic anthills using soil mixed with cow dung and Koneru water. In a late-night ceremony, the families enter the Nagoba temple campus, settle in their designated area called ‘Govad,’ and conduct the Abhishekam (ritual bath) for the deity.
A significant moment for newly married women is ‘Bhetting,’ a ceremonial introduction to the clan elders. Only after participating in Bhetting are they considered eligible to perform puja to Nagoba and observe traditional rituals.
“Bhetting is unique and acts like a bridge connecting the new generation to our elderly,” explains former Sarpanch of Keslapur, Mesram Renuka. “It ensures newly married daughters-in-law become part of our cultural and spiritual heritage.”
Following Mahapuja, the Mesram clan performs additional rites — Bhanpen and Persapen pujas, invoking various deities represented in their Gondi language as ‘Pen.’ Mandagajili and Bhethal pujas, integral elements of the clan’s ritual calendar. By evening, families head to Budumdev Jatara at Shyampur for yet another special offering. The clan then disperses to their respective homes, carrying with them the blessings of Nagoba.
Adivasis still practice a traditional form of publicity, where clan elders travel by ‘Chekda’ (resembling a bullock cart) to personally invite members from neighbouring villages. These tours begin after the sighting of the crescent moon, ensuring everyone knows the exact dates for Nagoba Jatara and Mahapuja.
The festival’s prominence extends well beyond Telangana. Adivasis from Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh have been attending in growing numbers over the last decade.
“Both Adivasis and non-Adivasis, in the lakhs, are visiting the Nagoba temple,” remarks Nagoba Temple Peetadipathi, Mesram Venkatrao. “We’ve seen a tremendous surge in attendance in the past ten years.”
Long before the temple’s current grandeur, a humble anthill in the nearby forests served as the original seat of Nagoba worship. The late Marji Patel, an Adivasi elder, led simple pujas at this natural shrine until a rudimentary shed was erected around 1940. Over time, the community collaborated to build a small temple, which evolved into a permanent structure in the decades that followed. In 2022, members of the Mesram clan pooled resources to construct the gigantic Nagoba Garbhagudi at a cost of approximately ₹5 crore.
Successive state governments have also contributed funds to improve the temple infrastructure and provide amenities for the growing tide of devotees.
For the Adivasi community, Nagoba Jatara is not just a religious festival; it is a cultural cornerstone. It reaffirms ancestral customs, binds families through shared rituals, and reinforces the age-old bond with nature.
( Source : Deccan Chronicle )
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