Nagpur, 14 September : According to Shalivahan Shak Panchag, the festival of Marbat has been celebrated for about 127 years in Nagpur, Maharashtra, on the second day of Sawan Amavasya. The symbolic effigies of black, yellow, Marbat, and Badgya are taken out on a procession and burned. There is a lot of enthusiasm among the people of Nagpur regarding this festival to be held on Friday.
In our agricultural country, Maharashtra and Karnataka are such states where the bull, which is called the friend of the farmers, is honored at the Pola festival. According to Indian civilization, the concept of creation related to human life includes rivers, mountains, animals, and birds present in the environment. As a result, the Pola festival is celebrated to express gratitude to the bull, who is a partner in the farmer’s hard work. There is a tradition of taking out Marbat on the second day of this two-day festival in Nagpur. In this, black marbat is taken out from 1881, and yellow marbat is taken out from 1885. These two Marbat idols go on separate journeys, and in the middle of the journey, both journeys come together to decide the future path together. On this occasion, Ida, Peeda, Khasi Khola Lekar Ja Gay Marbat! Such announcements are made.
Generations of artisans working to carry on Marbat tradition
Marbat and Badgya are taken out during Tanha Pola in Nagpur. Marbat and Badgya are considered symbols of evil. Generations of artisans who built Marabat are still working to carry on this tradition. This tradition is still being followed by making black and yellow marbat. Yellow Marbat has been taken out since 1985 by Tarhane Teli Samaj Mandal, located in the Jagannath Budhwari area of Nagpur. The Shende family of sculptors has been making marabats for generations. Generations of Sadashiv Vastad Tadikar have also been working as sculptors for many decades, making marble.
Yellow Marbat taken out since 1885
The construction of Yellow Marbat was started in 1885. The purpose of building it was to get rid of the diseases spreading in that city. At that time, there was a period of disease in the city. Then a belief was formed among the people that building Marbat provided relief from diseases, and hence people started building it.
Kali Marbat symbolizes demon Putana
Similarly, the history of Kali Marbat is also very old. It has been manufactured since 1881. Kali Marbat has been given the form of the demon Putana, sister of Kansa, in the Mahabharata period. After the death of Putna at the hands of Shri Krishna, the people of Gokul took the Kali Marbat, the symbol of Putna, outside the village and burned it, with the wish that all the evils and bad practices of the village would go out. Since then, Kali Marbat has been constructed. There is a belief that by taking the marbat out of the city and burning it, all the evils, diseases, and evils also get eliminated.
Jawan Peeli Marbat considered daughter of Jagannath Budhwari Marbat
Similarly, in the Juni Mangalwari area of Nagpur, Jawan Peeli Marbat is constructed every year by the Shri Saibaba Seva Mandal Public Peeli Marbat Utsav Committee. It is said that this marbat is the daughter of the yellow marbat, originating from Jagannath Budhwari. That is why it is called ‘Tarun Peeli’ Marbat. This Marbat has been constructed for 121 years. Its construction started late. It was done by a person named Kashiram Mohankar. He made this marabaat until the age of 80. After his death, his son, Manohar Mohankar, is now producing this marbat.
Elders found Badgya to be a powerful medium to express emotions and anger
In the last few decades, children in Nagpur have added the tradition of Badgya to the nearly 125-year-old tradition of Marbat. Children used to make badgya with the help of paper, tree branches, garbage from their homes, etc. Taking inspiration from the same children, the elders also found a powerful medium in the form of Badgya to express their emotions and anger. After taking the Badgya around the city, it is burned. Many such guilds producing Badgya are active in the city. All the mandals have started construction of their respective badgyas. Every year, these groups create Badgya by taking some evil in society as a source of inspiration.
