Nagoba Jatara
Apart from Samakka, Sarakka, the other major tribal festival in Telangana is the Nagoba Jatara, where Gonds worship the snake god, Nagoba. The 10 day festival, is held in Keslapur village of Indravelli mandal, Adilabad district. As per their belief on Pushya Amavasya, Nagoba, an avatar of Adisesha, opens his hood to dance, and grants darshan to his devotees between 7 PM and 12 AM, and after drinking the milk offered disappears.
The Nagoba temple is located at the Keslapur village, and the 10 day Jatara that begins on Pushya Amavasya draws large crowds much like the Medaram Jatara. The tribals worship Nagoba for peace and prosperity, as well as a healthier life.
There are many stories regarding the origin, as per one, it’s believed that Nagendra appeared in a dream to Nagayomathi, the queen of the Meshram tribe, and told that he would be born to her in the form of a snake. The queen got Nagendra married to her brother’s daughter Gauri, who then proceeded to travel to Godavari with her husband in a basket. On the way at a place, they saw a monitor lizard( Udumu in Telugu), which was named as Udumpur. At Godavari, Nagendra turned into a human being, and asked Gauri whether she desires name and fame, or her tribe’s traditions. When she rejected her traditions, Nagendra once again turned into a snake.
A grief stricken Gauri, searched again for Nagendra, and on not finding him, drowned herself at Satyavasi in the Godavari, while he turned himself into stone. It’s believed Nagendra instructed every newly married couple to pray before him, and then disappeared into the forest around him. This place was Keslapur, and the temple is built where he disappeared. The tribals believe that Nagoba makes an appearance every Pushya Amavasya.
The Gonds are believed to have descended from seven brothers Madavi, Marsakola, Kudmel, Puru, Pendur, Vedma and Mesram, which also accounts for their family names. The Gonds themselves are subdivided into Raj Gonds, Madia Gonds, Dhurve Gonds and Khatulwar Gonds. And its the Mesram clan belonging to the Raj Gond tribe, who do the Puja and rituals for Nagoba Jatra. Though the Madavi clan being the eldest, perform the Puja on the opening day. The Mesrams themselves later subdivided into the Nagabhide and Bhuyade clans.
The twin Mesram clans later divided into 17 families based on hereditary professions, around 16 days before the Jatara, 7 main families travel to Keslapur, on Pushya Pournami to fetch water from the holy Godavari river for doing Abhisheka to their deity. These families trek on feet during the entire journey of 80 km through thick forests, where tigers roam, carrying the Kalasam. They are accompanied by the Pradhans playing music, singing songs. At a place called Astamadugu they fetch the water from Godavari , and also take a holy dip in the river. It is believed that Nagoba appeared to their ancestors while taking a dip in the river here, and hence it is considered holy.
On the night of Pushya Amavasya, they do Abhishekam with Godavari water at Keslapur temple, after which they do Ksheerabhishekam and then perform the rituals as per Gond traditions. The Mesram clan cook their food on 22 pots specially arranged within the temple premises, and the walls have special diyas light for the purpose. These pots are made by Guggila clan of Sirikonda village, specially for Nagoba Jatara, with whom the Mesram clan has a long relationship.
When the half moon is sighted during Pushya maasa, the Mesram clan travel by bullock cart to Sirikonda and meeting the chief Kummari Rajanna, request him to make the pots for Nagoba. Two big vessels for cooking,and around 130 pots for carrying water.
Newly married couples are bought to the Nagoba temple and do the Puja, in what is called “Bheti Kiyawal”, after which they are introduced to their grooms. Two couples at a time, with faces covered, are bought in front of Nagoba and introduced. On the final day of the Jatara, there is a huge darbar where the elders of the various tribes, clans meet with the local MLAs, Govt officials to discuss their problems and issues.
Nagoba Jatra is attended not just by tribals of Telangana, but even the Gonds of Maharashtra, Chattisgarh, Odisha and MP, making it one of the largest tribal festivals ever.