Interaction with tribal women through way of music
Diwali also known as Deepavali, is one of the most widely celebrated festivals in India and by Indians worldwide. This festivals of light typically lasts for five days and holds immense cultural and religious significance.
Diwali marks the victory of light over darkness and good over evil. It is usually celebrated in October or November depending upon the Hindu lunar calendar. The main day of Diwali known as ‘Lakshmi Puja’ is dedicated to goddess of wealth and prosperity, Lakshmi. People clean and decorate their homes, light oil lamps or diyas, and create intricate rangolis to welcome her into their abodes. The exchange of gifts and sweets is a common tradition during Diwali, symbolizing the strengthening of bonds between friends and families.
Diwali, the festival of lights, is the perfect occasion to extend kindness to those who are often marginalized and under deserved , such as tribal communities. As one of the leading volunteer and activist of my NGO ‘The Care Takers Society’, I prosed the idea of distributing gifts to the Tribal communities of Maharashtra. Well it took some time take action upon this but on 1st November, 2023 it was finalized. And following this was too many things to be done, and this is how we did and planned out things for the Special Diwali!
Needs assessment: We began by conducting a through needs assessment within the targeted tribal communities. This involved engaging with the community leaders, elders and members to understand their specific requirements.
Fundraising: We secured the necessary funds by donation, sponsorships, or partnerships with organisation that support social initiatives. We also ensured that we had a proper budget planned for the cost of gifts and logistics.
Gift selection: We curated the gift hampers based on the needs and preferences identified in the needs assessment. The gifts included, food items, clothing, hygiene products, educational supplies, tools, and items that promote traditional skills and craft.
Cultural sensitivity: We paid close attention to the cultural norms and traditions of the communities, ensuring that the gifts and the distribution process respect their customs and values.
Public awareness: We shared the success of the initiative through social media and other social platforms to raise awareness about the challenges faced by tribal communities and inspire others to get involved in similar social service efforts.
The tribe that was targeted was called “The Katkari”: The Katkari were at one time a forest people living in the Western Ghats of Maharashtra, with a special relationship to forest creatures such as the tiger or ‘waghmare’, (wagh = tiger, mare = slayer; so tiger slayer) a common Katkari surname. The name Katkari is derived from a forest-based activity – the making and sale of catechu (katha) from the khair tree (Acacia catechu). Weling (1934, 2), drawing on census data from 1901, notes that the Katkari were ‘thickly scattered’ in small communities throughout the hill ranges and forests of Raigad and Thane districts in the present day state of Maharashtra. Some also lived in hill areas in the southern part of the current state of Gujarat, and in the forests of what are now Nashik, Pune and Dhule districts.
The Katkari population engaged in a wide range of livelihoods including the production and sale of catechu, charcoal, firewood and other forest products, freshwater fishing, hunting of small mammals and birds, upland agriculture and agricultural labour on the farms of both tribal and nontribal farmers. The making of catechu declined sharply after independence when the felling of khair trees was banned by the Forest Department. Later restrictions by the Forest Department on Delhi or shifting cultivation undermined the forest-based livelihoods of the Katkari. These interventions left the Katkari with few options but to move seasonally in search of employment and new places to live.
Beginning in the 1950s, Katkari families began to migrate permanently from ancestral areas in the hills to the outskirts of agricultural villages on the plains. Many very small Katkari hamlets are now spread throughout the region, including Khalapur, Sudhagad, Karjat, Pen and Panvel talukas in Raigad district and various talukas in Thane district, right up to the outskirts of Mumbai.
On the 5th of November, the action day, where we all were prepped up; we got up early in the morning out of excitement, loaded our cars with the valuable and necessary stuff, and then we were off !
Reaching to the location just gave us a sudden rush of fulfilment and a refreshing feel. The small children came running to us , started peeking inside our cars and giving us silly little smiles. Later on as everybody started to settle in , we started distributing the gifts with warm smiles, did some fun activities with them, listened to their problems, visited the houses of the oldies who could not come out and finally shared the joy of Diwali with them! One major problem that I noticed was that of the education of girls. Surveying the area and interviewing most of them made me realised that the education here is lacing but then I promised myself that Ill come back here with a much stronger purpose in mind with the needs backing it off !!
By following a well planned process we were able to make this Diwali a meaningful one. And these people showed us the meaning of real happiness and pure joy.
Here are some pictures portraying the happiness that everyone felt during this special day!
