Hareli- The Festival of Worshipping Nature through “Kutki Dai”
For Hindus, Shravana Amavasya marks the start of the holy month of Shravan. It is celebrated with great zest in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh and holds special significance for the rural farming community.
Kutki Dai, the goddess of crops is worshipped during the festival. Farmers seek her blessings with ardent prayers for a bountiful crop. Farmers and most prominently the Gond tribe of the region worship agricultural equipment and place branches of the Bhelwa tree in their fields along with Neem branches at the entrance of their houses.
Children can be seen walking on bamboo sticks called “Gendi”, through fields, a magnificent sight.
Thus this festival further harmonizes their relation with nature.