Andhra Pradesh: 5000 years old tradition

A prince of a tribal realm vanished all of a sudden some 5000 years ago. He was venerated as a god. The spot of his disappearance was converted into a temple and that day has become an annual event for tribals.

A FAMOUS tribal festival named Nagoba starts in Adilabad district of Andhra Pradesh on February 6. Tribals, particularly Gondu and Mesrum sub-castes, follow this tradition since five thousand years. Nagoba (Nagadevatha) is the god of tribal castes of Gondus and Mesrum. Nagoba temple is situated in Keslapur village of Indravelli mandal in Adilabad district. Lakhs of tribals from various places come and participate in this ‘Jaatara’ (festival). Government of Andhra Pradesh has also recognised this festival and it is also included in the state festivals’ list. This festival will be celebrated till February 9.

Tribal people strongly believe that Nagoba will protect their crops, and bring peace and good health to them on ‘Amavasya’ (new moon night) in the ‘Pushya masam’ (as per Telugu calendar) every year.

The history of Nagoba is also very interesting. Approximately 5000 years back, the queen of tribal kingdom named Naagaayi Mothi gave birth to a beautiful boy. Everybody believed that the boy was God Sarparaju himself, who they worshiped daily. In a dream, God himself told this to Mothi and asked her to introduce each and every newly married couple to him.

One day, that boy disappeared in the fields of Keslapur, presently situated in Adilabad district. Tribals strongly believe in this fable. They built a Nagoba temple at the same place where the boy supposedly disappeared. Since that day, they offer prayers to God Nagoba every year on this day.

A day before the beginning of the festival, all Mesrum people arrive at Nagoba temple and stay there for four days. Anyone is allowed to enter that temple only after completion of prayer by the Mesrum people.

Before this festival, on ‘Purnima’ (full moon night), nearly 20 tribals along with Mesrum people go to the Godavari River and bring the auspicious water of the river in new pots. The festival starts on that day formally. After 15 days, on the Amavasya, they offer that auspicious water and milk to the God.

Another interesting thing is that they cook only on 22 flames, albeit the population is in lakhs. These flames are also inside the compound of the temple. People other than Mesrum community, cook at their own places.

This festival has another significance. A tribal court is conducted on this day, which is also an old tradition. Nearly 60 years back, there was no transport in tribal villages. People belonging to plain areas treated tribals as barbarians. Tribals, in turn, were afraid of these people. No official would go to tribal villages. At that time, the Nizam appointed one human environmentalist named Professor Hyman Darf for detailed study on tribal life. He came to know that all tribals gathered on the occasion of the festival of Nagoba. Immediately, he thought of conducting a court on that day to solve the problems of tribals. In the year 1946, Darf conducted the first court (Girijana Darbar) in that village. After independence also, this tradition continues by district collectors. This court is held on the last day of the festival, wherein all the elders of tribal sub-castes are present.

Courtesy : Merinews