Matar is one of the prominent folk-festivals of Chhattisgarh. In 2024, it is being celebrated on 03 November. Lets know in little details about this beautiful Tihar(तिहार-festival ).
हिंदी में पढ़ने के लिए, अपनी डिवाइस स्क्रीन के ऊपरी दाएं कोने पर 'हिंदी' पर क्लिक करें।
Meaning Of The Word
Matar ( मातर) word is made up of two words- ma मा( meaning mother) and tar तर( meaning- to awaken). Thus the meaning of the word Matar here is to awaken or worshipping the power of mother goddess cow or paying their gratitudes to mother goddess cow.
When Is Matar Celebrated ?
This fetival is celebrated on the next day of Govardhan puja and Govardhan puja is celebrated on next day of deepawali. It is important part of the deewali festival and celebrated with similar enthusiasm in rural parts of Chhattisgarh mostly.
Matar Is Celebrated And Organised By Which Community ?
Matar Tihar is organised and participated in by Yadav community which includes thethwar, rawat and pahatiya sub-communities of Chhattisgarh with the help and support of villagers. Aadiwasi brothers also take part in it.
Legend
Lord Krishna had introduced cow as mother to the world. As lord Krishna was from Yaduvansh, Yadav/ Yaduvanshi, since then, worshipped and adored cows and this folk-traditional festival is dedicated day for the same.
Khodhhar devta(made up of wood) is worshipped on this day. This used to be done by going inside the jungle and worshippig the deity. In present tradition the Khodhhar devta represents the deity which resides inside the jungle.
What Does Happen On The Day Of Matar ?
On this day cattle are garlanded with Suhai, made up of peacock feathers and Duhar, made up of tree bark. With beautified lathis and bright and colourful clothings Yadav brothers perform Nacha( folk dance) and recite Dohe(couplets) intermittently alongwith Baja(Nishan, dhaphra-leather dafli and Mohari-traditional wind instrument) all along the way.
Khodhhar devta is installed temporarily in Gauthan ( cattle shed premises) early morning of the Tihar.
In The Morning Of Matar
Matar begins with bands of Yadav brothers along with Baja with reciting Doha satrt to go to participative families houses. Tulsi -chaura is worhipped and prayered along with lighting Diya.
Cattle of the participative families are brought to Gauthaan or any large open ground.
Band of Yadavas, Baja and cattle circle around Khodhhar devta, cattle move ahead of the band and Baja.
Doha
सदा भवानी दाहिनी, सन्मुख रहे गणेश। पांच देव मिल रक्षा करे, ब्रम्हा विष्णु महेश।।
पूजा करे पुजेरी रे संगी, धोवा धोवा चांउर चढ़ाई। पूजा होथे मोर मातर के, जे गोरस दूध पिलाई।।
कारज धीरे होथे संगी, काहे होत अघीर हो। समे आए रूख-राई फरय, कतको सींच नीर हो।।
तेंदूसार के लउठी भईया, सेर सेर घीव खाय। जेकर पीठ में गरजे लउठी, कुहर कुहर जीव जाय।।
ये चित्रकूट के घाट में ,भय सन्तन के भीड़ हो । तुलसी दास चन्दन घिसय ,अउ तिलक लेत रघुबीर हो।
जै जै सीता राम के भैया, जै जै लक्षमण बलवान हो। जै कपि सुग्रीव के भईया ,कहत चलै हनुमान हो।।
पातर पान बंबूर के, केरा पान दलगीर हो। पातर मुंह के छोकरी, बात करे बड़ धीर हो।।
In The Evening Of Matar
Kaachhan – It is an important part of the Matar. Yadav bandhu joins the band of Yadavas and Baja by coming out with swinging lathis and reciting dohe from room, where their ancestral deity( kul-devata) resides. This is done after worshipping ancestral deity.
Usually all male members of the community perform Kaachhan and visit to parts of the village.
lathi
simple, slender, blunt,hand-held generally wooden stick.
At Night
After the conclusion of the Matar Tihar at night villagers are invited for food and fed on behalf of Yadav community.
Male members, who performed Kaachhan and went for village visit, are welcomed back by ladies at their houses by taking aarti. As a form of farewell of the Matar Tihar, Kaachhan-lathis are submitted to the ancestral deities for a year.
Folk cultural programmes like Nacha is organised at night for villagers.
Matar Tihar is celebrated all across Chhattisgarh with little variations which might be seen in timings, orders and other things.
FAQs
Is Matar celebrated in other parts of India ?
No such folk-traditional festival is noticed in other parts of the country on that day. Though bhai-dooj is celebrated with defferent names.
Why is this folk-festival of Matar not being celebrated in a few villages of Chhattisgarh for the past few years ?
Excessive drunken participating members of the communities led to deterioration of scenarios, disputes and quarrels for the last few years. Cosequently communities and villagers decided not to celebrate it.
How are Matar and Raut Nacha related ?
Matar includes performance of Raut Nacha as part of it. Raut nacha is an independent folk dance of Chhattisgarh.
Credit
Featured Image Utilized : https://images.app.goo.gl/5wQfavZ1tWAniNaFA
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