Keonjhar: Raja festival was celebrated in the state with traditional gaiety, but there was a marked difference in the celebration at Narasinghpur of Bhandardiha panchayat under Ghasipura block in Keonjhar.
It’s quite unique and not found anywhere. It is called Dhipa Mada done on the last day of Raja festival.
On the first day of Raja, the villagers after getting ‘ordain’ from village deity Maa Mangala go to the forest and bring a tree known as ‘Jia Gachha’.
On Raja Sankranti (the second day), the tree is worshiped at the feet of the deity and is taken out in a procession around the village. Sticks made out of Sishu tree (mahogany) are tied with tiny bells. People keep beating the hollowed bark of the tree and sing songs of love and adulation written by Kabi Samrat Upendra Bhanja during the procession.
The people beating the Sishu tree wear pieces of cloth and tree twigs around their heads. Thousands of people throng the area to watch the procession. They worship the deity and offer pana (watered mixture of mashed fruits) and coconuts to the goddess. Locals believe that worshipping the deity in such a fashion will ensure good harvest and people’s welfare.
The bark of the tree is removed in a special way. A rope is tied around the tree tightly and its bark is removed intact. It looks like an empty pole beaten with Sishu tree sticks. The beating is called Dhipa Mada.
After the end of the procession, the bark is brought to the banks of Sendhei River and then immersed in it with rituals. This tradition in Raja festival has been continuing for many years, said Narendra Kumar Sahu, a lecturer.
PNN