The tribal festival of Diyali sounds a bit like Diwali, even coincides with it, but has its own unique traits. Celebrated with great fervour by the Paraja, Saora, Gadaba and other tribes of southern Odisha, the three-day festival involves bovine worship. It is very popular among the tribals and even observed by other castes and geographies.
Interestingly, a three-day Diyali festival is also celebrated in Himachal Pradesh, though with a different set of rituals and for different reasons. The locals in the hill State burn pieces of deodar and pinewoods on small slabs of rock in every house for peace and prosperity.
Pendra Prasad Nayak, vice-president of Zilla Kala Sanskruti Sangha of Nabarangpur district, explains the significance. “Diyali festival is religious and ritualistic to the core. The mother cow in each tribal household is worshipped. And with the cow becoming a central character, the cowherd (Rauta or Gauda) automatically becomes a focal point too,” Nayak tells The Indian Tribal.
On the first day, the entire household — the womenfolk in particular — turns up to wash the cow. ‘Geta,’ a type of silken rope made of a distinct brand of jute, is wound decoratively about its horns. The cow is offered rice. With its strong religious connotations, Diyali festival sees everyone abstain from non-vegetarian food.
Religion and rituals underscore the importance of Diyali festival, when the cow mother in each tribal household is worshipped
On the second day, the cowshed and house are cleaned and washed. The women create a small area of red clay with designs (jhuti) drawn in rice flour in front of the house. This is where several rituals are performed before the cow. The animal is then offered khichdi — rice mixed with a curry of pumpkin, potato and cowpeas — in a bamboo pot called the tukuna. Whatever remains of the khichdi after the cow has eaten from it is considered prasad and partaken of by everyone.
On day three of the Diyali festival, the cowherd is the cynosure of all eyes. The cow is let loose and the cowherd runs after her to collect the Geta in a symbolic gesture. He then goes from door to door, singing and dancing with a group of musicians playing Gachhi Baja, Mahuri and other traditional musical instruments.
“Every household donates rice, millets and other staples to the cowherd, bringing the curtains down on the Diyali festival,” says Pendra.
