Ras-Nawa Festival of Madhya Pradesh
Name of Festival : Ras-Nawa Festival
Time of celebration (Month)
The festival is celebrated in once in every nine years. .
Major Territory of Celebration
Ras-Nawa Festival is celebrated in the Madhya Pradesh state of India.
Worship in Festival
Baigas celebrated this festival in honour of their legendary ancestor Nanga Baiga
About Festival
Ras-Nawa is a another special festival of the Baigas of Mandla district.Ras-Nawa means ceremonial eating of honey.The festival is celebrated in once in every nine years. Baigas celebrated this festival in honour of their legendary ancestor Nanga Baiga.
Shrubs called Mohati and Anhera are the favourites of the bees as they get ample honey out of their flowers.When drop of honey fell to the ground, Nanga Baiga dipped his finger and tasted the substance.Nanga Baiga ran for his life and when he reached his house he found it filled with bees. On that condaition he was unable to shift either inside the house or outside so he promised to make offering every nine years.
On day of festival the Baigas go to the forest to get honey.On their come back to the village a festal booth is built for the Mohati and Anhera shrubs.Near the festal booth millet is prepared by ‘Shaman’, the witch doctor, in gourds and when it is ready honey is poured into the vessels. That honey is scattered to all those who attend the ceremony. Merriment boys take chances to smear the faces of the girls with honey.
