L'daga village gears up for oldest festival

LOHARDAGA: Manho, a village in tribal-dominated Lohardaga, is gearing up for the oldest festival, Shakti Puja. This community puja has a history of more than 200 years and is known for reasons more than one.
Equal participation of people from all communities like the tribals and kshatriyas (Nagvanshis) makes the puja unique.
Secondly, the fair organized in the district during Dusshera and popularly known as "jatra" held in rural parts of Chhotanagpur has the oldest history, as far as fairs organized in the district during.
In the early years, the "jatra" at Manho will be a 4-day affair. Now, it is held only on Navami.
Animal sacrifice forms an integral part of this traditional puja at the ancient Manho Gram Devi Temple, which worships the Saptabahini form of Goddess Durga.
"About 30 goats are sacrificed at the temple altar where the ancestors used to sacrifice buffaloes too," said Onkar Nath Shahdeo who plays a significant role in organizing the puja and the fair.
There are no restrictions on the entry of people from diverse castes and communities since it is a temple open for all the villagers, as the name suggests.
The villagers celebrate this puja with great zeal and enthusiasm. Jitu Oraon and Jatru Oraon, said, "Since it is known far and wide that the village has the oldest tradition of worshipping Durga as well as organising the faiR, the natives take immense pride in its celebrations."
The 81-year old priest of the Gram Devi Temple, Devakar Pathak, serving the temple for more than 40 years, said, "My ancestors had been serving this temple that has the oldest history of traditional Shakti Puja in Lohardaga," said Pathak.
The temple was first made of mud. "It was only later that it was refurbished and now has cemented walls and roof. The Saptbahini Durga, too was made of clay. It was later covered with copper and its base changed into a marble 'asana'," added he.