Koraput: People of the tribal Paraja community recently observed Bandapana, a festival for the wellbeing of their families and protection of crops from pest attacks.
Bandapana is known as the first festival of the year that is observed on the new moon day of Bhadrav month of the Hindu calendar.
The tribals in Machhara village under this block observed the festival Friday.
Many peasant families went to a farmland to perform the age-old rituals practiced by their ancestors. They worshiped Betarani Chasa Kanya, the revered goddess of agriculture, who helps the farmers during agricultural activities and planted some branches on the field.
The festival is being celebrated since ages, said local farmer Madan Kirsani. Earlier, the festival was being observed for three days which has been reduced to just a-day-long affair now.
The aim of celebrating the festival is to guard the family against deadly diseases and protect the crops from insects, Kirsani said.
Even as the scientific reason behind the celebration is not known, the Parajas have managed to keep the tradition alive, said another farmer.
Some other tribals who have grown paddy this year said they have complete faith in the goddess and they expect a bumper harvest this season.
While the farmers have already transplanted saplings in the fields following the rains, more rain in coming days can result in massive crop damage, said an elderly farmhand of the village.
PNN
