HARELI FESTIVAL
In Chhattisgarh, Hareli is a popular festival celebrated with great pomp. The word Hareli is derived from the Hindi word Hariyali which means green. According to the Gregorian calendar, each festival corresponds to the months of July and August. Hareli Utsav in Chhattisgarh is celebrated on the day of Satwan Amavasya or Amavasya of the month. This is the beginning of the holy month for Hindus. Kutki Devi is the deity of the kingdom to get a good harvest in this festival,
Among the Gond tribes, farmers in Chhattisgarh worship God at this time
They are used for farming and cows. The theme of this festival based on nature and the
Farmers pray for a good harvest. Although the prayers are eager, the revelations in the law are simple.
This festival is celebrated with great pomp. The word ‘Hareli’ is derived from the Hindi word ‘Haryali’ which means green. It is a festival celebrated mainly by various farming communities during the month of Shravan. The festival is celebrated in the months of July and August in the Gregorian calendar. Hareli San in Chhattisgarh is celebrated on the new moon of the month or Shravan Amavasya. This is an old traditional festival of Chhattisgarh which starts the month of Shravan, a holy month for Hindus. The Hareli festival is actually a harvest festival that focuses on the rainy season throughout the year. Goddess Kutki Dai is the main deity worshipped for good crops during this festival.
The festival of Hareli has a special significance among the Gond tribes. At this time the farmers of Chhattisgarh worship the tools and cows used for their farming. Farmers pray for a good harvest and the main theme of the festival is masculinity. Although the prayer is passionate, the revelations in the law are simple
During the Hareli festival, the people of Chhattisgarh plant Bhelwa tree branches in their fields. They also offer neem tree branches at the entrance of their house. Neem has medicinal properties that protect against diseases as well as pests. Traditional medical practitioners from the Baiga tribe or Chhattisgarh teach and evaluate their students. The green festival of Chhattisgarh is also marked by playing “Gedi”. It is a game where children sit on bamboo sticks and walk in the fields. In some places, they even take part in “Gaddy” races.