Dimtang Puja, an annual cultural event of the Kharia tribe, showcases the traditions and the myriad facets of their community life. `Dimtang,` a Kharia word, means cattle shed or Gohar and tung means purification. Thus, the word Dimtang Sung means purification of cattle shed. The festival being celebrated in the Hindi month of Baisakh i.e. during April-May, it is also called Baisakhi Puja. Every year the festival is celebrated in Gohar (cattle shed) on family level. It is also occasionally performed in the tanr land i.e. up land on the clan level at an interval of every three years. Such a form of tanr is usually situated at the outer region of the village settlement. The oldest clan men and the head of the family serve as the sacred specialists on clan and family levels, respectively. This ritual is practised to appease Goria Darha i.e. the cattle spirit.
History of Dimtang Puja
When the Kharias migrate from some remote places, their cattle such as cow, ox, goat, fowl and a dog named as Chaura Bhaura accompany them. These cattle especially the cows and oxes usually carry their luggage. The cows also help them in guiding their path in the dense forest. The kharias on their way halt at certain places and take rest under trees. They also at times construct huts using the branches of trees to take shelter during the nights. The cows are thus, held in high esteem by the Kharias. To commemorate the event and to honour the services rendered by the cattle, the tribals celebrate the Dimtang Puja. During the festival they create images of cow, ox and Chaura Bhaura, the dog for the purpose of worship. Nagra Mati, a special type of soil is usually used for the artistic work.
Celebration of Dimtang Puja
The Kharias celebrate the Dimtang Puja with great devotion and dedication. No special day is assigned for the celebration of the festival though it is usually performed in the month of Baisakh (April-May). On the proposed day the head of the family or the oldest man of the clan accompanied by the other male members of the family or the clan proceeds towards the place of worship where a symbolic cattle shed is constructed using Sal wood and leaves. The shed is tied with Arwa Suta i.e. new thread all round for five times. The site deemed to be sacred is smeared with cow dung and the images created by the Nagra Mati are installed on five small heaps of Arwa rice. On clan level a pig or goat is sacrificed while on family level three fowl of varying colours are sacrificed. On the family level the Rangua (red) and Mala (spotted) fowls are sacrificed in the name of Pat whereas Kashari (Grey) colour is sacrificed in the name of Burha Burhi and Goria Darha.
On the clan level, a goat or a pig is sacrificed in the name of all the Goria Darha Pat and Burha-Burhi. The goat and pig are sacrificed using an axe. The blood oozing out is then poured on the images and also on the heaps of arwa rice. Following this, the worshippers pray to the Goria darha with folded hands uttering a mantra that states
"May my cattle remain safe and sound. May no harm befall them from tiger and bear, beast and reptiles, rivulets and rivers sickness and evil eyes." Then Tapan (offering) of lice-beer is given in the name of this deity.
The head of the animal slashed is dressed and later cooked by the Kalo who cooks it and eats it alone with boiled rice. A portion of the food is sometimes shared with the unmarried sons present at the spot during the ceremony. In case of clan level celebration the flesh of the goat or pig is distributed equally among each family. Upon returning back home the meat is prepared and then jointly consumes by all the family members excluding the unmarried girls.
