Culturally rich Bharat has many festivals, including the Sitala Mata Festival. Celebrated by the Banjara community in the month of Ashadha (July), this festival takes place in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Maharashtra.
The Deity Sitala
Sitala, a deity revered by the Banjara (Lambadi) community, is believed to protect them from epidemics and promote livestock prosperity, health, and family well-being. This festival is unique because it involves worshipping nature without using Vedic mantras and tantras.
Historical Context
The Sitala Festival is a significant event for the Banjara community. During the Islamic invasions, the valiant Banjaras stood with Hindu kings despite the defeat of the Rajputs in Rajasthan. They remained steadfast in their dharma and migrated to various parts of the country during this period. They eventually settled in states like Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh, forming Thandas (settlements or hamlets).
Origin of the Festival
In ancient times, the Banjara people lived in forested areas, tending livestock and cultivating land. They produced ghee from cow’s milk, which they traded regularly. The community faced hardships when their livestock began suffering from diseases, resulting in significant losses. One night, the Nayak (elder of the community) had a vivid dream where seven goddesses appeared before him. Among them, a smaller deity named Sitala Bhavani informed him that by installing statues of the seven goddesses under a particular tree, worshipping them, offering animal sacrifices, and completing the vows, they would protect the cattle and eradicate the diseases.
Following this revelation, the Nayak shared the dream with the community, and they began celebrating the Sitala Festival. The Sitala Bhavani festival is now celebrated every year in the month of Ashadha (July) on the First Tuesday by the Banjara community.
The Seven Sister Goddesses
Among the seven goddesses, Sitala is one. The seven sister goddesses are:
Additionally, they worship Lukadya Dev, the brother of the seven sisters, praying for the prosperity of livestock such as cattle, horses, goats, chickens, and overall animal wealth.
Celebration and Rituals
On the auspicious festival day, villagers gather outside their community to engage in deeply rooted traditions. Seven goddesses, painted with colours symbolizing purity and prosperity, face the east, signifying new beginnings. These sacred stones are prepared with great care, cleansed, and consecrated for the occasion.
In front of these sacred stones stands Lunkdia Bhagavan, a ceremonial marker facing westward, representing balance and alignment with cosmic energies. The goddesses are adorned with fresh flowers, symbolizing beauty and purity, and offerings of sorghum and pulses, soaked at home the day prior, signify abundance and sustenance.
A traditional puja commences, led by village Nayaks or priests, invoking blessings from the divine forces and ancestors. Central to this puja is the offering of home-cooked jaggery rice, symbolizing nourishment and prosperity. Water, known for its purity, is used in the rituals, sanctifying the offerings.
Symbolic Offerings
The offerings include Onions and black pepper, symbolizing protection from negativity and purification. These offerings are made with deep reverence, seeking divine blessings for community prosperity, health, and harmony.
Preserving Culture
During the festival, Lambadi women wear vibrant attire and gather to dance joyously to the rhythmic beats of drums. Their songs echo tales of tradition and reverence for Seethlamata, a deity cherished for her protective and nurturing qualities. Following the dances and songs, a sheep is sacrificed. The cows, goats, and sheep are led over a sacred line, which is believed to imbue them with Seethlamata’s protective blessings against diseases. Special offerings, known as guggis, are sprinkled upon the cattle, symbolizing the community’s prayer for the well-being and prosperity of their livestock.
Community Bonding
As evening descends, the tribal tandas resonate with festive cheer as relatives, friends, and siblings come together in joyful celebration. The air fills with laughter, music, and the aroma of communal feasts, fostering kinship and solidarity among all who gather to honour their traditions and the blessings bestowed by Seethlamata.
This elaborate and deeply symbolic festival honours tradition and spirituality reinforces community bonds and reveals the timeless connection between humanity and the divine forces that shape and bless their lives.
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