Bandna Parab day 1

 Day -1(Jagran)

Bandana Festival Of Kudumis of Odisha,Assam and Westbengal 💛❤️
Dr. Basanta Kumar Mohanta
    Sudhansu Shekher Mahato


The first day of Bandna festival is well known throughout the Kudmidesh (Jharkhand and boardering areas of West Bengal and Orissa) as Jagran. The children look to be in merry mood with the arrival of the day of Jaqran.

    In the morning, Bagals/Dhangals draws the cattle to the nearest pond/river or any other water points for washing. After giving a thorough bath to the animals, they are brought back to Gohal (cowshed). In the absence of Bagal, elder male members of the family perform the same. Sometimes, even the children also assist the elders. The cattle are provided with sufficient food specialty grass or paddy straw. The female members of the family besmear the courtyard with cow dung solution, before proceeding to the nearest pond or river for bathing and washing them in a new Tonki. After bathing, the women return to the house in their wet clothes. The Tonki with wet rice is put on the Chhain (roof) for draying. A few hours later they bring down the dried rice and grind with the help of Dhenki (husking lever).




    In the evening they illuminate the rice powdered made Diwa on Sal patta (leaf of shorea robusta) along with a grass bundle on the both sides of the door of all the rooms including Gohal. The other places of importance to be illuminated include main entrance, storeroom, well, Khalihan/Khola (threshing ground), Manure pits, Tanks, Tuishi manch/ Chaurah etc. The extinguished lamps and grass bundles are collected and placed on Chhain. Though the process of lightening is done by the Bagals, irrespective of age and sex the other members of the family equally participate. Later the collected Diwas are crushed into powder and the Pitha (cakes) prepared out of it are specially meant for the Bagals. The Bagals, smear oil and Sindoor on the horn and forehead of the catties. In the absence of the Bagals, elder members performed the same but for the cows and she buffalo the females are responsible.

    The female further prepares Khapra Pitha (a type of rice cake) in a Palam covered with an earthen lid, which is enjoyed by each and every members of the family. Then the actual sprinkling of rice gudi/gundi solution on every agricultural implements along with Gohal, Khalihan, Tulshi monch, Manure pits, well etc. are taken place. The main objective behind shrinking solution is to awaken the implements and hence the name Jagran which means to awaken is justified.

    In the night, after finishing the dinner Bagals/Dhangars along with other elder villagers gathers in one corner of the village or at the house of Mahto with musical instruments like Dhol, Nagra, Mandal/Madal, Jhun-Jhune etc. for Dhingwani Bhula. It is an important part of Bandna Parab in which the entire team sings and dances through out the night h front of each house with the motive of keeping the people awaken and at the same time preventing the entry of evil spirits.

    The night of Amabashya is considered to be the most suitable time for the Dayen and evil spirits to play their black magic on the people as wel as animals. Therefore, the Dhingwani team moves from one end of the village to another while attending each house. During their movement from one house to another, they sing a song, which reads as:

Khoja Khojate Jai,
Pucha Puchhtie Jai,
Kati Dhure Ahiraka Ghar,
Ahiraka Ghare Bhai,
Tulashi Ka Pindha,
Anganate Nache Dasha Bnai,
Dasha Bhai Ke Dele Bhai,
Pani ni Padatau,
Rahi Jatao Juge Juge Naam.

    (The time crosses while searching and enquiring, "How far is the house of cattle owner?" In his house, there is a Tulshi manch/chhauraha, where the Dasha bhai (ten brothers but here entire team) sing and dance. If you contribute to the team, there would not be reduction of wealth rather your name will be commemorated from era to era).

    The arrival of the Dhingwani team is welcomed by the house owner and treated with Handia (rice beer) and Khapra pitha according to their capacities. They sing and dance while beating drums, Nagra and Mandal at the courtyard for which they are paid either in cash or kind or both. The kind includes paddy, rice9, vegetables and khapra pitha etc. Sometimes the team members might snatch vegetables or fruits grown in the bari for which the owner makes no objection. While leaving the house they warn the house owner as well as cows to remain awake. The same is reflected through the song as:

Jago Ma Lachhmi,
Jago Ma Bhagawati,
Jagi Sutain Amabashya Raat,
Jago Ke Re Pratiphal,
Pow Ba Re Akhani,
Pancha Putra Dasha Dhenu Gai.

    (Oh mother Laxmi, Oh mother Bhagawati; keep awakening, the night of Amabashya. The cost of awakening will give you five sons and ten Dhenu cows).

    In this manner they move from door to door producing alarming sound. At the dawn, they Dhingwani team) gathers at the outskirt of the village under a tree or on an open place where they make a symbolic sacrifice of gourd and bum a straw made effigy. Finally, the collection is distributed among its members before they disperse.
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Reference

 

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