‘Gav Saat’ Puja 22/04/2019 – Posted in: Daily News
‘Gav saat’ puja
For: Preliminary
News Flash
The ‘gav saat’ puja in chaitra month is to appease goddess Pochamma.
Adivasis perform rituals in Adilabad district to protect themselves from sunstrocke and related diseases.
They believe that carrying an onion bulb in their pockets, will keep them safe from the wrath of the sun god when needed to be outdoors.
The Adilabad district is located in the northern region of Telangana, India. It is known as the gateway district to South and Central India.
Due to the district’s reorganization in October 2016, Adilabad was divided into four districts: Adilabad district, Asifabad district, Mancherial district, and Nirmal district.
Rituals
- Onions are even worshipped by the Adivasis in these parts as part of the ‘gav saat’ or village seven puja.
- This puja is performed during the chait or chaitra month every year.
- This puja appease goddess Pochamma and keep her from entering their village.
- Occurrence of chicken pox as a consequence of excess heat in the body is attributed to the wrath of Pochamma.
- Every household is apportioned equal quantity of meat of the goat (or goats) sacrificed to perform the gav saat, which is nothing but worship of the seven goddesses, including the ‘situr beiyye’ or the mother of cold.
- The seven onions and the seven cups made of moduga or palash (Butea monosperma) leaves in which food offerings are kept symbolise the seven goddesses.
Puja Outside Village
- The seven leaf cups will be filled with offerings made with sugar or jaggery.
- The food is cooked and eaten outside the village while the onions and the leaf cups are left behind.
- The blood from the sacrificed goat and sacred offerings outside the village will satiate the hunger and curiosity of the goddess which will have her bypass the village.
Source: The Hindu