Skip to main content

A lot more than tribal festival: How Bohada’s mask magic 'transcends' generations

By Gajanan Khergamker*
  
In India's North Maharashtra, as tradition has it, Palghar District’s Mokhada taluka bears testimony to Bohada -- the 250-year-old festival that peaks in the last three days, transporting its residents into a magical realm of a mythological past.
Charged with age-old charm, the nights in this Palghar town, known for its dependence on nature and traditional local healers, come alive with flaming mashaals accompanying the vibrantly-hued masked entities dancing with wild abandon to the beats of the Sambal and the mesmerising tune of Shehnai played by Warli musicians.
Local performers adorning colourful masks of deities, over generations together are guided by revellers through one end of the road till the other. Some carrying mashaals move through the dark of the night and amidst a swiftly surging sea of the devout, bringing to life the legendary festivities once again, the day after Holi on Dhulandi, at Mokhada.
The traditional welcome to the gavdevi, Jagdamba Devi is associated with ceremonial dances of mythological characters from Ramayana, Mahabharat, etc., and include Lord Ganesha, Goddess Saraswati or Sharada, Ravana, Bheem, Tratika, etc.
The tribal mask festival called Bohada is celebrated in Mokhada roughly during the Shimga festival, as Holi is known in Konkan region, and extends from five to 15 days depending on the zone. Interestingly, each tribal partaking in the festival has been doing so for over generations and harbours fond memories of his father, even grandfather dancing all night long while adorning an age-old mask and costume that goes back into a sacred prayer area in his house, after each festival, to emerge again the next year.
This year, Mokhada resident and autorickshaw-driver thirty-year-old Prasad Patil was particularly nostalgic. Till seven years back, it was his father Yuvraj Patil who would get dressed in the costume and partake in the utsav. “My father passed away and, as is the tradition, I took his place in the festival the following year. Bohada will always be very special to me.”
So, during the Bohada festivities in Mokhada, Prasad drives an auto-rickshaw by the day, becomes Bheem by night. “I am also training Niranjan so, this year, I had him dressed up too to perform with me. After all, he will carry forward the family tradition after me.”
Curious onlookers jostled to grab a peep through windows of changing rooms in huts where young boys were being applied make-up, even dressed up as female characters by older women to recreate mythological forms like Saraswati, Hidimba and others who’d go on to perform all night long.
The highlight of the evening, a retired primary school headmaster Ramchandra Jadhav transforms thin adolescent boys into strong, vibrant characters through bright face paint, wigs and dyes to fit into roles cut out for them, and perform, year after year. “I have been doing this for 50 years and after retiring as a primary school headmaster last year, now all my time is devoted to this service only,” he maintains.
Interestingly, each family whose member transforms into a mythological character and performs to perfection is responsible for all the related activities as well. So, for example, for every procession, the family has to arrange for the torch or temba, as it is locally known, for devotees to carry with the procession. Some even light firecrackers, other use LED lights, etc., to draw public attention to ‘their’ performance.
It’s the last three days of the festival that are the main days when thousands from nearby villages flock to Mokhada to be a part of the procession and revelry. It is a ceremony laced with sagas of significance, religious compulsion and community sentiments. The villagers believe if they won’t observe Mokhada, bad things will happen to them.
Local Rushikesh Lade looks forward to this ‘favourite’ time every year. During the festival, he spends his evenings sitting with his mother Pramila outside his general store along the main road where the procession takes place. “I have been watching this since childhood, it’s one of my earliest memories and I still love to relive it in person. It’s a time when the entire village comes together to prepare for the festival,” he says. “It’s a wonderful feeling of camaraderie for us all.”
Nearby, three-year-old Durvesh clings on to his mother Bharti and hides behind her each time a ‘demon’ walks past. Bharti arrived to Mokhada after marriage a few years back and will be witnessing Bohada for the very first time. “Neither did I nor my son witness the festival earlier. Durvesh loves to see all the masked deities and demons…their dance and fights. Sometimes he gets scared as well but then soon, his curiosity overcomes his fears and he is ready for more,” she says.
Nineteen-year-old Anurag Nikam holds five-year-old Niranjan Patil playing the role of Chhota Bheem with his father Prasad Patil, who plays Bheem, during the Bohada festival at Mokhada. Anurag enacted the role of Lord Ganesha this year taking over from father Prakash Nikam, also the Palghar Zilla Parishad President, as is the local tradition. Prakash, himself a Bohada enthusiast, recalls having performed the role of Ravana and dancing with a multi-headed heavy mask during the Bohada festival in 2016.
Bohada being a performance-based festival, a lot of efforts are put towards make-up and costumes. During these three days, traditional songs and tribal music emanate from customary instruments played by Warli musicians. Masks worn are first revered in religious ceremonies and then put to use.
Prayers to Lord Ganesha, Saraswati, Maruti and Mahadev are followed by story narrations of Tratika, Hiranyakashapu, Bheem Bakasur, Agni Dev, Ravana, Narsimha, Vishnu Dev, Brahma Dev, Indra Dev and the saga of Ramayana. Men dressed as women provide the sprinkle of amusement to locals.
Mock-fights between mythological characters complete with plastic swords and papier-mâché spears performed in open areas cordoned off by the family members guarantee entertainment all night long. Warli performers play locally-made instruments, some stringed, others doling out shrill piped-music for the benefit of the revellers.
Bohada isn’t just about music or festivities. It’s about recreating the legends that hold sway on their lives, all their lives. So, some of Mokhada’s tribals will stop consuming alcohol for the three-day period; some desist from eating meat and a few mask-wearers get into trances that symbolise the entry of the deity into his body.
And, till the deity stays in his body, swaying to the beats of the night, everyone will move in sync and offer their prayers in the moment that, they believe, will deliver them from grief and trepidation.
Bohada is a lot more than merely a festival for the tribals of the zone who celebrate their mythology in person and, over generations together, for those precious nights.
---
*Editor, “The Draft”. A version of this story was first published in The Draft

Comments

TRENDING

'Draconian' Kerala health law follows WHO diktat: Govt readies to take harsh measures

By Dr Maya Valecha*  The Governor of Kerala has signed the Kerala Public Health Bill, which essentially reverses the people’s campaign in healthcare services in Kerala for decentralisation. The campaign had led to relinquishing of state powers in 1996, resulting in improvement of health parameters in Kerala. Instead, now, enforcement of law through the exercise of power, fines, etc., and the implementation of protocol during the pandemic, are considered of prime importance.

Reject WHO's 'draconian' amendments on pandemic: Citizens to Union Health Minister

By Our Representative  Several concerned Indian citizens have written to the Union Health Minister to reject amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR) of the World Health Organization (WHO) adopted during the 75th World Health Assembly (WHA75) in May 2022, apprehending this will make the signatories surrender their autonomy to the “unelected, unaccountable and the whimsical WHO in case of any future ‘pandemics’.”

A Hindu alternative to Valentine's Day? 'Shiv-Parvati was first love marriage in Universe'

By Rajiv Shah*   The other day, I was searching on Google a quote on Maha Shivratri which I wanted to send to someone, a confirmed Shiv Bhakt, quite close to me -- with an underlying message to act positively instead of being negative. On top of the search, I chanced upon an article in, imagine!, a Nashik Corporation site which offered me something very unusual. 

Savarkar in Ahmedabad 'declared' two-nation theory in 1937, Jinnah followed 3 years later

By Our Representative One of the top freedom fighters whom BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi revere the most, Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, was also a great supporter of the two nation theory for India, one for Hindus another for Muslims, claims a new expose on the man who is also known to be the original proponent of the concept of Hindutva.

Bihar rural women entrepreneurs witness 50% surge in awareness about renewal energy

By Mignonne Dsouza*  An endline survey conducted under the Bolega Bihar initiative revealed a significant increase in awareness of renewable energy among women, rising from 25% to 76% in Nalanda and Gaya. Renu Kumari, a 34-year-old entrepreneur from Nalanda, Bihar, operates a village eatery that serves as the primary source of income for her family, including her husband and five children. However, a significant portion of her profits was being directed toward covering monthly electricity expenses that usually reach Rs 2,000. 

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

Work with Rajasthan's camel herders: German scientist wins World Cookbook Award 2023

By Rosamma Thomas*  Gourmand World Cookbook Awards are the only awards for international food culture. This year, German scientist  Ilse Kohler Rollefson , founder of Camel Charisma, the first of India’s camel dairies, in Pali district of Rajasthan, won the award for her work with camel herders in Rajasthan, and for preparing for the UN International Year of Camelids, 2024. 

'Very low rung in quality ladder': Critique of ICMR study on 'sudden deaths' post-2021

By Bhaskaran Raman*  Since about mid-2021, a new phenomenon of extreme concern has been observed throughout the world, including India : unexplained sudden deaths of seemingly healthy and active people, especially youngsters. In the recently concluded Navratri garba celebrations, an unprecedented number of young persons succumbed to heart attack deaths. After a long delay, ICMR (Indian Council for Medical Research) has finally has published a case-control study on sudden deaths among Indians of age 18-45.

Why is electricity tariff going up in India? Who is the beneficiary? A random reflection

By Thomas Franco*  Union Ministry of Power has used its power under Section 11 of the Electricity Act, 2003 to force States to import coal which has led to an increase in the cost of electricity production and every consumer is paying a higher tariff. In India, almost everybody from farmers to MSMEs are consumers of electricity.

Union Health Ministry, FSSAI 'fail to respond' to NHRC directive on packaged food

By Our Representative  The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has expressed deep concern over the adverse health effects caused by packaged foods high in salt, sugar, and saturated fats. Recognizing it as a violation of the Right to Life and Right to Health of Indian citizens, the quasi-judicial body called for a response from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) regarding its selection of front-of-pack labels aimed at providing consumers with information to make healthier choices.