“I have attended modakondamma festival where god is in durga avatar festival at Paderu 12th to 14th may as it is the major event for tribals living in 11 mandals across agency and participants include across the state, would like to share experiences that surprised me”.
To go with the origin of the festival it has a very historic start since 1960, people not only from Paderu but also tribal from other agency region came to touch the idol of goddess. Before attending the event I questioned some tribal about history, geography and economics of event and understood the significance of the event for tribal. My estimate is about 10000s but I realized more than 4, 00,000 joined in 3 days, the regular road which I always walk in 10-15 minutes from start to end of Paderu town took almost 2hrs. In the crowd, everyone are cheerful as they have seen the goddess and their requests will come true.
After I have finished a round to events made, felt like the readers of the blog should have attended to witness the changes happening in tribal life as the main schedule of festival are carrying goddess so that more people can touch god and ask for blessings, the preparations across the town are done by bearing in mind interests of youth brought changes in the lightings patterns across the street including shapes of London bridge, Tajmahal, Charminar, peacock etc.
The festival is backed by both tribal and non-tribal living, working as govt. officials in agency region and collection of funds started 15 days in advance from all commercial goods sellers, govt. official of ITDA (includes schools, PHCs), Chanda collection from travelers to shape the festival into a greater extent.
I went to a couple of houses for greeting their family, given me a surprise houses are full of relatives gathered across the residences. This situation is common in tribal and non-tribal households as they feel it’s a festival for all. Though the spaces of houses are not enough to accommodate the number of relatives yet they call their relatives one week in advance, ask them to stay in their houses which they feel is bonding and sharing.
Second and third day are more excited for youth they see it as right dais to show abilities in dance, imitation, magic and finding out right spouses. The dances and singing events continued till 4 AM every day and I felt very fascinating when they have performed Ganganam style dance, Back street boys steps etc. western songs irrespective of language people standing around the stage also started screaming, appreciating and started to imitate the same moves. I couldn’t resist myself about mentioning that alcohol was sold in every shop across the street and allowed to drink in public, it’s an harvest of money plant for many liquor traders and gambling games like dice, ring game, cup game, guess card game were mushroomed in all places, which I would say for quick money in simple steps described by seller made tribal lose their hard earned money saved around year.
Shopping preferences were ranging from daily needs to Olay total effects, I have seen most of products now a days kids in metro cities ask their parents are available to purchase like Ben 10 bags, Bey blade tops, flying plastic tiny fans, balloons with in shape of picachu from Pokemon series and chota bheem may be due to the presence of 7 DTH services in almost all the interior areas of agency. Already soft drinks have taken the place of drinking water in festival.
Over all the festival brought tribal & non-tribal together showed exactly how bonding and sharing works. I wouldn’t be surprise to see branded imports entering into tribal life style sooner than our expectations.
So true . I see tribal youth wearing FUBU,FCUK,Rbk,GAP,playboy t shirts here, probably china pieces :P.
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