Valpoi: Dussehra festival is celebrated in a big way by the Dhangar community at Bhuipal Sattari. The festival is very important in the cultural tradition of the tribal Dhangar community of the state. Dhangar have a uniquely different way of celebrating Dussera. The festival is celebrated for three days, and it ended on Saturday with traditional Aarti and Garane.
On this occasion, there was an atmosphere of excitement in every ward of the Dhangar village over the three days preceding Dossro. They are essentially forest dweller and have great respect for nature. In the past the lived in the hills. But due to government forest rules they had to leave the forest and migrate near villages inhabited by the general population.
So there has been a great impact on their culture, so inorder to protect their culture and traditions they go back to the forest to celebrate Dossro.
“As per the tradition, we gather every year, in nature’s lap. Since the Dhangar samaj loves nature, we have for centuries been living in the mountains and forests. We pass on our tradition to the future generation, as the elders have taught us. We celebrate Dossro for three days. On the first day we celebrate Zagor, then Dossro and then Shilangan. On the third day we celebrate the sarvajanik maand at Bhuipal, Sattari. This is celebrated in all the wards where Dhangar community is predominant,”a Dhangar youth told O Heraldo.
On the first day of Ghatasthapana, these festivals are concluded by celebrating Zagor, Dusseara and Shilgan. On this occasion, on the night of the Zagor, the community gets together and builds torana and motoli at each others’ house. Similarly, they worship the gods by performing Gajaya dance together.
On the morning of Dossro, they worship God after bathing and wearing new clothes. Also the Dudga of buttermilk is filled. In the afternoon Aarti and Garana are performed. Men and women sit together in different groups and eat Naivedya at night once again at everyone’s house.
After visiting, the Dudga Inga programme, Gajya dance as well as Dhangari fugdi is performed in everyone's house.
Similarly, on the last day i.e. Vijayadashami day, Dossro is celebrated with enthusiasm by taking the God on the lap. Earlier this event used to happen in the open place on Malrana. In some places it is still being celebrated in the same way.
But now due to lack of space the programme is held in front of their homes. Even today the younger generation is seen protecting the cultural traditions of this tribal Dhangar community.