BOHADA
short description
Bohada is a three-day mask festival from Thane and Nashik in Maharashtra.pan india marker
{"facets":[],"facets_metadata":[],"filters":[],"pager":{"current_page":0,"items_per_page":1,"total_pages":0,"total_results":1},"results":[{"title":"Songa ","nid":"2951932","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\u0022EN-GB\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EAcross cultures, masks are found to be artistic expressions of ritualistic behaviour. These masks are symbolic objects, which reflect the history, beliefs and customs of a community. Traditionally, the Kokna tribe maintain and preserve the masks over generations in a family. It is wrapped in a cloth and stored safely in the house, only to be taken out a couple of weeks before the festivals. One of the mask characters known as Ghuba Devi is believed to be 200 years old. Annually commissioned \u003Cem\u003Esonga\u003C\/em\u003E makers create new masks or repair the ones existing. It is said that the masks were traditionally made of leather and wood, but with time masks made with paper pulp also came into being. The artists use clay, paper pulp and locally extracted gum to shape the mask on a half-spherical mud mould, which forms the base. It is then kept aside for 2 to 3 days, and when fully dried the mask is removed from the mould. The masks are painted using natural colours or synthetic enamel and given a bright smooth look. Occasionally, several character depictions are assembled on one mask called \u003Cem\u003Etathi\u003C\/em\u003E. Obeisance is paid to every mask before being used for performance.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","field_sta_category":"","field_slider_images":"","field_states":"","field_marker_details":"","field_thumbnail":""}],"sorters":[],"system":{"page_key":"page"}}body
The village of Bharsatmet in Maharashtra hosts a festive event known as Bohada, featuring masks. This annual celebration of the Kokna tribe is also enthusiastically observed by the Warli tribe in Bharsatmet. In the month of May, the village of Bharsatmet hosts the Bohada festival for three days, though the festivities spread in the tribal areas of Jawher, Mokhada and Peth tehsils of Thane and Nashik districts as well. This festival of the Kokna Tribe honouring the village deity along with other gods and goddesses commences on Akshay Tritiya (the third day of the Hindu month of Vaishakh).
The three-day festival exhibits 52 traditional masks called songas organised by the village elders and chief mask makers. The songas that represents gods and demons are adorned by performers to enact stories of their gallantry and vanquishment.
Following the traditional customs, the women sow rice in their houses a week before the festival. The festival commences with a procession carrying the saplings of rice to a nearby pond accompanied by traditional songs and music. The saplings symbolising fertility and prosperity serve as offerings to the village deity. This tribal festival is witnessed by people thronging from Daman, Sylvasa and Gujarat.