8-Day Nagoba Jatara begins in Adilabad district

In Telangana, the eight-day-long holy pilgrimage event of the Mesram clan Adivasi Gonds called Nagoba Jatara, began at midnight at Keslapur village in the Adilabad district.  Mesram clan Raj Gonds and Pardhans from far and wide, including the erstwhile Adilabad district in the state, neighbouring Maharashtra and the vast tribal region in Central India, are congregating in Keslapur to celebrate the annual mega holy fete. The mega Jatara called the second largest Adivasi tribal fair in the country, will feature a slew of religious activities reinforcing the eternal bond between Adivasis and Mother Nature rooted in their centuries-old tribal traditions and customs, during the fair. 

The annual pilgrimage event has been kicked off to a traditional start with the sacred ritual of making Nagoba (serpent deity) with clay of anthill and Sri Nagoba Maha Puja has marked the inaugural event around midnight. The event was



preceded by the holy ritual of worshipping the earth by the Mesram clan Adivasi Gonds as per their centuries-old customs under the sacred banyan tree in Keslapur. The holy water brought from the Godavari at Jannaram in Mancherial by pilgrims barefoot is used in the special rituals at Nagoba temple. 

Several public representatives besides District Collector Rajarshi Sha and Superintendent of Police Gous Alam attended the rituals last night. The traditional Darbar, a major event of the festival, is scheduled for this coming Friday and the fair will continue till the 4th of next month. Meanwhile, the district authorities have made elaborate arrangements for the weeklong fair in the historic tribal village. Special buses will operate all the days of Jatara from the Adilabad bus depot to Keslapur, and all buses passing through nearby towns will provide access to the village.