Uttarakhand tunnel rescue: Jharkhand families arrange 'murga' to thank local deities

KHAIRABERA: They could hardly afford two square meals a day and depending on the rice provided by the local MLA, Rajesh Kahchap, but families of the three workers who were rescued from the Uttarkashi tunnel said they would arrange 'rangua murga' (red-feathered chicken) and 'charka murga' (white-feathered chicken) for sacrifice to their 'kul devata' (family deity) once their sons return home safely on Saturday morning.
According to their families, it was because of 'kul devata' and 'graam devata' blessings that their sons returned after being trapped in the tunnel for 17 days.
"Some people may think that we are arranging the chickens to celebrate their return but the fact is that we firmly believe in our tribal culture and always remember to revere our deities for the blessings they have showered on us," said Charku Bediya, the septuagenarian father of Anil Bediya, one of the 41 labourers rescued from Silkyara tunnel.
‘Surviving on rice without salt, oil’
Talking to TOI, Charku introduced his sister Balo Kumari, who covered her face in the cloth, reluctantly admitted that they have been surviving only on rice and local saag (leafy vegetable) obtained from the local forest) all these days. “There is no earning member in the family except for Anil and when he was trapped, we lost all hope. We had even thought of taking a loan from anyone willing to give so that we could arrange a proper meal,” she said.
At Rajendra Bediya’s home, his mother Phool Kumari Devi has been anxiously waiting for her son's return and cooked rice and boiled potatoes for the day. “We have a good stock of rice but could arrange only potatoes for the meal today,” she said, smiling after getting the news that her son will get a grand welcome and a gala dinner hosted by chief minister Hemant Soren on Thursday night.
“We have arranged two chickens for the sacrifice to please our deity who blessed my son with a new life,” she said, adding that the ‘murga-bhaat’ would be a big celebration for them. Similarly, Barhan Bediya, the father of Sukhram Bediya, said several relatives have come to his home to meet his son and he will have to sacrifice a goat according to their tribal traditions.