When Goat Replaced Human Sacrifice In Odisha’s Tribal Fest

Bhawanipatna: Tribals in Kalahandi district recently celebrated their “Toki Mara Parba” festival, which is held once in 12 years, by sacrificing a female goat in the hope of reaping good harvest as well as peace and harmony in their communities.

Around 50 to 60 years ago, the tribals used to sacrifice a daughter of the village jani (village head) to Dharni Penu (a local deity) to seek the deity’s blessings.

According to Parmeswar Mund, a Bhawanipatna-based researcher of tribal affairs, the age old tradition of sacrificing a girl was changed to a female goat in the past four decades.

Earlier, the tribals believed that just like a mother take cares of her children, the sacrificed girl would also save them from all evil. “But gradually their belief changed and now they choose to sacrifice a female goat instead of a girl,” said Parmeswar.

He said two wooden pillars in the shape of H are placed by the tribals after offering prayers to the local deity. According to tribal beliefs, one of the pillars represents the deity’s head that gets connected to her body after 12 years. “The tribals then know that it’s time to pray to the deity with offerings of rice, vermillion, and other pooja materials,” informed Parmeswar.

The week-long festival is celebrated before the last Sunday of Pausa month as per the Odiya calendar.

Recently in many tribal pockets of Kalampur, Thuamul Rampur, Koksara and Lanjigarh blocks of Kalahandi, the tribals celebrated the festival after the customary gap of 12 years. “We believe that the deity saves us from all difficulties and we also pray to her hoping for a good harvest,” said Goutam Munda Disari, a tribal.

After sacrificing the female goat, people from the Kondh and Parja tribal communities bury a a piece of meat in their farmlands. “Accompanied with drumbeats, the tribals armed with lathis and traditional weapons fight among themselves to take a piece of meat. They believe that unless it is buried in their farmlands, they won’t reap a good harvest,” said Lanjigarh MLA Pradeep Disari, who also took part in the festival.

As per tradition, two days after the conclusion of Toki Mara Parba, the tribals observe “Dhangdi Dola”, the customary tradition of choosing brides.

Young boys and girls participate in a community dance to choose their life partners. A boy chooses a girl and then pulls her across 50-100 meters in front of the community. “Finally, the community members declare the boy and girl as married,” informed “ the groom and bride and marry them bride and groom are announced as married,” Kailash Sahoo, a resident of Lanjigarh.

Parmeshwar Mund said the custom of a boy pulling a girl he desires to be his wife is an old age ritual and the community enjoys it a lot.