Twenty days to the scheduled day, our relative in the village hands over a few lists to us, lists of the various things required for the Kola. He's a remarkable man- extremely hard-working, god-fearing, and also has a certain know-how of how things work. The lists are long, and look a little complicated. We come home and have a closer look at them.
Our initial thoughts are, how the hell are we gonna get all these things, and from where!
Nevertheless, we go through the lists again, and again, and again, and yet again. And magically we start getting a few ideas. MS-Excel to the rescue! There are three different lists, one for the people who'd be setting up the area for the ritual (the mantap), one for the poojari (the person who's something like an intermediary between the netherworld and the people assembled), and the last one for the artists who don the colours and invoke the Spirits. In all there are about 60 different things in various quantities, sizes and shapes.
Firecracker Flower (aboli/abbolige) |
Such visits also mean a great way to unwind with loved ones and the calves and the cats, pick wild berries, catch great sunsets, and also to experiment with the camera.
As the D-day slowly approaches, so does our excitement begin to rise. With three days to the event, we are a bundle of nerves. The responsibility that we've taken up is big, and we fervently hope everything goes as planned. For which the answer is only one: Hope.
*This is the second post of an eleven part series on the recent Bhootha Kola we organised at our ancestral home, in our village; CLICK HERE to read Part-1 of this series, CLICK HERE to read Part-3 on Raising the 'Mantap', CLICK HERE to read Part-4 (Potpourri), The Inauguration! (Part 5 of 11),
The Make-up! (Part 6 of 11), The Dance Begins! (Part 7 of 11 - Invoking Panjurli), The Dance Continues...(Part 8 of 11), The Torch & Head-dress (Part 9 of 11), The Dialogue & Acceptance (Part 10 of 11), The Curtains Come Down (Part 11 of 11)
Read also: Of Daivas and Spirits
The Make-up! (Part 6 of 11), The Dance Begins! (Part 7 of 11 - Invoking Panjurli), The Dance Continues...(Part 8 of 11), The Torch & Head-dress (Part 9 of 11), The Dialogue & Acceptance (Part 10 of 11), The Curtains Come Down (Part 11 of 11)
Read also: Of Daivas and Spirits
Lovely post. I've always enjoyed Kola in my ancestral home without worrying about what effort it takes. So much gets into organising Kola which is not easy.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sims, will put up more on this as and when I organise the multiple photos from that day :)
DeleteI have never heard about this before!! thanks for introducing me to a whole new festival and making the post so informative!
ReplyDeleteThanks Hemangini. Watch this space for more!
DeleteTell us more, we're listening Piyu... am totally new to this world!! :-) And it sure seems exciting!!
ReplyDeleteCheers, Archana - www.travelwitharchie.com
Thanks Archie :) :)
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