Culture - - Posted on December, 9 at 10:08 pm
The tribes of Tripura with their life centred round growing paddy have a festival calendar which reflects various phases of the crop cycle. Mamita, the principal agricultural festival is celebrated in winter at the time of harvest of paddy.
In the months of Ashvina-Kartika (Oct-Nov) the paddy is harvested. To separate grains from husk the paddy is thrashed by beating or with trampling. This activity takes the form of young tribals dancing ecstatically on paddy ears spread in the courtyard. The dancing and merrymaking with some pujas for thanksgiving forms the Mamita Festival.
The main deities Mailooma (goddess of rice) and Khoolooma (goddess of cotton) are offered the first harvest. Other deities like Akhartra, Bikhirtra, Matai Kutar, Matai Katarma , Sangrang, Tuima, Nokchumatai, Buracha and Sekaljook are also worshipped. There is no specific date or timing. Every family decides the day according to the harvest schedule.
Two earthen jars filled with the newly harvested rice are kept in a corner of the house. These are symbolic of the two goddesses Mailooma and Khoolooma. Two sacred stones are placed on top of the rice. These are believed to help beget children. The goddesses in form of the jars are worshipped with flowers, water and other food offerings. A chicken is sacrificed as thanksgiving for the good harvest. Other miner gods are worshipped on the banks of a water body. The merrymaking and the Pujas end with a feast to the relatives and neighbours.
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