Indian Tribal News Service
Hyderabad/New Delhi
All roads on the Maharashtra-Telangana border lead to the Jangu Bai Cave Temple. Popular pilgrim center for the Raj Gond, Pardhan, and Kolam tribes, located in the Sahyadri Hills. In the forests of Mukdamguda and Kotaparandoli villages in the Kerameri Mandal in Asifabad in Telangana.
The rituals of revering the deity will continue for 30 days as the Jangu Bai Jatara kickstarts on January 4 this year. The 75 feet long cave said by the locals.
The festivities begin with the conduct of the ‘Devve Niruswal’ or lighting of lamp that represents the deity at temple. Said a member of the organizing committee to The Indian Tribal News.
The Kolams, spread across Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh while. Further, the Gonds tribe found in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Bihar, and West Bengal. The Pardhan tribe is a subgroup of Gonds and found in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.
Meanwhile tradition, several devotees could be seen carrying bamboo baskets, containing rice, wheat, jaggery, and oil produced from sesame or castor seeds, on their heads, and playing traditional instruments like Sanayi, Kalikom, and Tudum, and beat drums.
The ethnic tribes congregate at the temple during the sacred Hindu month of Pushya and take a holy dip in a tank locally known as Toplakasa before entering the temple. They perform traditional prayers and certain rituals as part of the fair and indulge in festivities.
Some devotees also sacrifice chicken and sheep to goddesses Maisamma, Pochamma, and Ravudk.
