Gangaur Pujan – Photo: Amar Ujala Expansion Often you must have seen that people shy away from lifting their own false plates or utensils in the organization of any Bhandara or public feast. In Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh, during the Gangaur festival, a bid is made to pick up false leaves in the Bhandara. The one who has the highest bid gets the chance to pick up the false leaf. Guruva and people of Kahar community consider it as an act of virtue. The money that is bid for Juthi Pattal is used for Mata’s Bhandara next year. This unique tradition is followed only in Khandwa of Nimar. These days the famous Gangaur festival of Nimad and Malwa is going on. On Gangaur festival, Ranu and Dhaniyar Raja are worshiped as Shiva-Parvati. The ceremony takes place just like a wedding ceremony. Jhalaria songs are sung along with the Mehndi ceremony. Treating Ranu Bai as a daughter, a lot of respect is done here. This festival, which lasts for nine days, starts only after Holi. In this festival, the ashes of Holi and wheat are mixed and the statue of the mother is done. After this, wheat is sown by putting soil in the bamboo basket. This work is called Bari which is watered for eight days. This place is opened for darshan on the eighth day. After this, people take them to their homes and after applying Nevaidya and Bhandara, the mother is taken to the garden to give water and garlands. This is how Gangaur festival is celebrated. As if the excitement of marriage is going on in someone’s house. This year Guruva and Kahar Samaj have painted Gangaur Mata in the colors of Bengali culture. The way the Bengali bride and groom wear costumes, similar costumes are worn to Gangaur Mata. Sadhna Somnath, who made Gangaur Mata sit, told that every year we decorate Mata in the costumes of different places according to the Indian culture. This time we have decorated Mata in Bengali costumes. The tradition of 28 years old The people of Guruva and Kahar community believe that picking up false leaves is a virtuous act. Somnath Kale of the society told that the tradition of picking up false leaves is almost 28 years old. It was started by his elders. This tradition of lifting false leaves brings social harmony in the society. Due to this, a rich person of the society also happily raises the false leaf of the poor person of the society by bidding to lift the false leaf. Now bidding takes place on every line. From this time, bidding has also been done for food grains and other items for Mata’s Bhandara for the coming year. The bid amount is used for the Bhandara to be held in the coming year. It is a belief that those who come to eat food in Mataji’s worship, they get special blessings of Mataji by lifting their false leaves.