Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Artist Sahdev Rana has showcased the Mati festival of Bastar in terracotta mural beautifully which is attracting visitors at Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya Bhopal.
The exhibit is displayed under a terracotta mural exhibition at Mythological Trail, an open air exhibition of the museum. This exhibit has been depicted in a terracotta mural on the ritualistic processes of the traditional Mati festival celebrated in Bastar. The artist is from Kondagaon Bastar
About the exhibition, coordinator of the mythological open air exhibition, P Anuradha says the soil festival is celebrated in a precise manner. It is celebrated for three days in the month of chaitra (March- April). Each village has a place called Maati Kot, where deity of soil is worshipped.
On the first day of Maati Puja villagers make ceremonial worship of weapons, seek blessings from village deities and go for hunting expeditions. The prey is carried over the shoulder in a procession and brought to Maati Kot. They sing, play and dance the entire night and rest there.
On the second day, any kind of soil related work is prohibited in the village as well as collection of leaf, wood and other work in the forest. Entry of outsiders in the village is barred.
On the third day, villagers bring goat, chicken, pig, fruits, rice, vegetables etc. from their respective homes for offerings. To appease the mother earth, Gayeta (maati priest) sacrifices the animal brought by the villagers. The head part of the animals belongs to the Gayeta and the torso part belongs to the one who took the vow. Community feast is arranged at the same place and all the male members of the village eat there.
After the feast, the villagers come home as early as possible because they have a belief that as soon as the evening falls, a lion, who is considered to be the real form of Mother Earth, comes to that place, she opines.
