How the tribal fest got its name and why it isn’t a ‘Prem Parv’

Bhopal: Like previous years, villagers representing the Bhil and different other indigenous communities of Madhya Pradesh poured into the tribal districts to celebrate Bhagoriya, melting into each other's arms, holding hands, splashing each other with the colours of Holi and spreading an infectious gaiety as they ran rings on merry-go-rounds, flashing broad smiles. Speaking to TOI, Ashok Mishra, the curator of Bhopal's globally acclaimed Madhya Pradesh Tribal Museum, shed light on the back stories and history associated with Bhagoriya, while debunking what he called the mistaken characterisation of the popular tribal cultural event as a ‘Prem Parv' (festival of love). "Bhagoriya goes back hundreds of years and was a popular Bhil festival even under British rule, typically marked by celebratory gatherings of tribal folks and boundless fun and frolic in a festive ambience. However, in recent years, Bhagoriya has come to be mischaracterised as a Prem Parv when it has to do essentially with the divine invocation of Indradev (the Hindu deity of rain) for enough showers to help villagers survive harsh summers on an arid land," Mishra said."It isn't a Prem Parv, but an Avahan (invocation) Parv. I believe that over the years, a section of event organisers and people associated with the tourism industry have mistakenly labelled Bhagoriya as a festival to celebrate love. For the longest time in its history, the festival has been about indigenous people coming together and invoking Indradev, sending prayers up to the Heavens to irrigate parched fields and help them survive unforgiving summers," he added.On how the festival got its name, the veteran curator of the tribal museum said, "Since the idea behind the festival was ‘Dukhon ko bhagana' (driving away sadness and gloom), it was named Bhagoriya."