Nagpur, 10 Sept (HS): The historical ‘Marbat

Festival’ will be celebrated on Friday, the day following the Pola Festival.

The day is also celebrated as ‘Tanha Pola’ (Pola festival of children with

wooden bulls). Marbat is a unique festival of Nagpur started in 1881 to raise

voice against social ills. Initially Kali Marbat (Black colour effigy) was

introduced to protest the British Rule in India. Four years later Pili Marbat

(Yellow Effigy) was added to the procession taken out from Jagnath Budhwari

area in Nagpur. The procession moves on the main streets of East Nagpur and

culminates by burning the effigies.

The protest against British Rule through Marbat,

were added to project social ills like atrocities against the downtrodden,

women, corruption etc. This year paper leakage, corruption in construction of

roads and buildings, unemployment etc are likely projected through ‘Badgya’,

which are another form of effigies projecting social ills.

The festival symbolises the removal of evil

practices, common diseases, negative forces and misfortunes from the society.

The festival also marks the most end of most pious month of Hindu almanac ‘Shrawan’.

It is believed that the vector borne diseases end with the end of the Shrawan

month.

With the international recognition of the festival

through internet many international delegates watch the festival. A special

arrangements are made for the political and social leader and foreign delegates

in Jagnath Budhwari from where the procession starts after performing religious

rituals. The unique annual procession is watched by scores of people from

Nagpur on its route.

Although the Marbat celebration was started by Teli

Community, there is no restriction based on caste, creed, religion or any other

form for participation in the festival. People vend out their anger on the day and

then forget it.

Besides raising the negativity and evil influences,

the festival also is a medium to generate awareness and social harmony and

projects wellbeing of the entire society. The festival allows the people to

come together in a spirit of unity and communal harmony, fostering a sense of

belonging.

This year the issues relating to students like

cancellation of competitive examinations, paper leakage, suicides by students

and farmers, unemployment, drought situation, inflation, corruption at all

levels, bad condition of roads, costly education and health services, growing

crime are likely to be projected during the procession.

Nagpur Municipal Corporation has taken initiative

to participate in the festival with the projected aim of projection it at

international level. However, many citizens and political leaders have

expressed discontent over interference of BJP-ruled municipal corporation into

the festival..

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Hindusthan Samachar / Ajay Vasant Mardikar