A festival of hurling explosives
Indore, Oct 29 : The residents of Gautampura village in Madhya Pradesh's Indore district observe a unique festival in which gunpowder-filled dried fruit 'Hingot' are hurled between two rival teams to exhibit their martial skills and dare devilry.
''The villagers split into two teams 'Turra' and 'Kalangi' and throw explosives on each other in the evening of second day of Diwali in which many people are injured,'' Gautampura-resident Devilal Gurjar told UNI, adding that it is organised on the ground in front of Devnarayan temple.
He claimed that throngs of people from India and abroad came here to enjoy the Hingot festival.
Gautampura is situated on the banks of the Chambal River, about 16 km north of Depalpur and 68 km north-west of Indore.
Local denizens pluck the fruit from Hingoria tree, dried it, filled it with gunpowder and closed the other end with soil then they lit the gunpowder end and hurled it on the rival team. The fruit exploded violently in the air and also sometimes hurt people.
The festival started from evening and continued till midnight and soon the sky canopied with fireworks.
The teams fight like foes at the mock battlefield but mingled soon after the festival is over.

Tribals in MP celebrate three-month-long Diwali
Barwani, MP, Oct 27 : Tribals in western Madhya Pradesh's Jhabau district celebrate Diwali, the festival of light, continuously for three months in their unique style.
There is a tradition in Barela tribe not to celebrate Diwali in case of death in the village. Under such circumstances, they celebrate the festival in the later months.
''This is not necessary that all the villagers celebrate the festival on the same day,'' Dr Nikunj, who has written several books on tribal life, adding that the tribals celebrate the festival as per their convenience.
Each tribal family celebrates Diwali for three days. On the first day, the house is cleaned and painted with cowdung, especially the Otala 'porch' of the house. Deepaks or 'Kawade' -- earthen lamps -- are also made from cowdung.
On the second day, cooked rice and pulses is offered to the guests, 'dhols (barrel drums)' played at night and crackers burst followed by dance and drinking party.
Tribals stop playing the 'dhol' after Holi and the practice is resumed during Diwali. A bottle of liquor is offered and a cock sacrificed to the music instrument before playing it.
Cattle is worshipped on the third day. Tribals wash their horns and paint them with geru (red soil) and milk. 'Bajra (millet)' with silver jewellery on it is offered too in order to appease the 'Goddess of wealth' Lakshami.
Male tribals touch the feet of bullocks after cladding in their turban and chant 'Khand Khand Kurrav'. The bullocks are made to run in the village and no work is taken from them.
''The festival concludes for the Barela tribals betweeb one and three months after Diwali concludes, according to the Hindu calendar,'' Government Post Graduate College Assistant Professor Sumer Singh Solanki said.
Village chiefs from 10-15 villages hold a meeting and decide the day for the festival.
''Other tribes such as Bheel, Tadavi and Bhilala also celebrate Diwali but not with as much significance as Barelas do,'' he added.
Diwali falls on 'Amavasya' -- the 15th day of the dark fortnight of 'Ashwin'-- and is also called as Deepavali, meaning a line of lamps. Being the festival of lights, Deepavali in India is a holy tradition and symbolises 'the victory of light over darkness', darkness refers to ignorance and light to knowledge.
It is a major Hindu festival honouring 'Maa Lakshmi' -- 'the Goddess of wealth'. Celebrated joyously all over the country, it is a festival of wealth and prosperity.
The magnificent five-day long jubilation of Diwali is marked by multi-colored rangoli designs, special pooja ceremonies, lines of lamps, floral decorations, fireworks, exchange of sweets and gifts that lend grandeur to the occasion.

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