Bhagoriya

It's always enriching going back to roots. Festival, colors, People, Tribe, culture, Love.

Bhagoriya- 7 days festival prior to Holi celebrated by Bhil and Bhilala communities in Madhya Pradesh. The Festival Bhagoriya is mass swayamvar where people gather in large number and initiate the process of finding Bride and Groom. Meanwhile if they have already chosen bride, the Groom apply Gulal on bride's face in Bhagoriya. Otherwise they propose the unknown girl by doing so or in some case their friends or family approaches girl's family if boy likes her. The festival literary means "Bhag"-run away. The festival has also Open market of vegetables, fruits, toys, jewelry, Rides and all. Full on Mela. It is celebrated at different places in Jhabua and Alirajpur District of MP. Both are border district which shares boarder with Gujarat and Maharashtra.

Tribals are roots of India. They are still not fully modernize and thus they are attached to mother nature which they worship. Now a days, people are migrated to Guajarat for livelihood. Basically all tribal people are in to Agriculture. They take only once season crop and then migrate to Gujarat for Labor Work. On Bhagoriya, they come down to their respective place in MP and spend all money they have earned.

I was fortunate to witness it in four places. Pitol & Kalyanpura in Jhabua, Sondva and Jhobut in Alirajpur. Even both district have some difference in celebration Bhagoriya. Jhabua district has more Mela culture where Rides are more. On the other hand Alirajpur has more people interaction than Rides. Also they come in group with same dresses (And we thought we celebrate Group day in colleges only :P). In bhagoriya they were all silver ornaments as an expression to show how much they have. There are Self made Toll booth on the way. Basically the boys stop you when you are passing from their village and ask for 10 rs. Once you give 10 rs, They will clear your way. This is done only during Holi Time.

They get married at the age of 15-18. The reason behind getting married early is strange. If a boy run away with girl then boy's family has to pay 3 to 4 lacs to Girl's family. To avoid the situation they get married early.

They drink Tadi which is sweet when fresh and sour later. Liqour is major issue of distruction in this rigion. Imagine a 118 crore auction amount for liquor shop license. Mostly to supply in Gujarat as its dry state and secondly for their own consumption.

The Jhabua-Bhagoriya journey is only possible because of Bhukan Sinh. Teacher at Vanvaasi Ashram. Interacted with students from sixth to 10^th. They are more aware of the situation. I hope they are change Agent for better tomorrow. Spent lovely time while staying with them. We went to holika Dahan where they dance with dhol around holi.finally bid goodbye to them.

Next destination- where curiosity takes :)