Orissa Tribes Enjoy Intoxicating Liquors

[Guest guest]

Bhubaneswar, INDIA (Mar 15, 2005): With a belief that they can't

work without liquor, the residents of Bhubaneshwar drink

excessively, matching their eating habits during the "Country Liquor

Festival".

 

In the Hindu month of Fagun, people of almost all ages come together

and enjoy the festival in full fervour. They drink and drink hard

during the time, as they think that this will give them strength to

work hard.

 

This tradition has a widespread following and the tribes across the

state have the tendency of drinking liquor in all happenings.

 

"In our village, people cant stop drinking on any birth or marriage

occasion or even death ceremony. Not only this, we also worship our

God and Goddess by offering them liquor. We relish having an array

of cocktails at one platform. Today I'll have all kinds of liquor

here," said Sada Hantala.

 

The Tribal community of Malkangiri, a district of Orissa, consume

liquor, as heavily as they consume food during the festival. A

village in Charanaguda" enjoys the festival of country liquor every

year in this month.

 

This festival is associated with the selling of different varieties

of drinks ranging from Handia, Mahua to Somras.

 

But there is the darker side of this festival of enjoyment also as

it causes severe drinking disorders in the tribes.

 

"The administration should focus extensively on this festival which

is still away from the reach of either administration or excise

department. This habit of tribal forces them to commit them crimes.

They are uneducated people and we should make them aware of it. We

don't mind keeping our tradition alive. However, this is

superstition and administration should not allow this," said

Ratnakar Dash, an Activist.

 

Orissa, a land of more than 62 tribes is known for its distinctive

life style, eating and drinking habits, dressing patterns etc.

Liquor is considered as food and at the same time a ritualistic food

to satisfy deities and spirits. It is considered as a social

necessity by the tribes and therefore consumed by them irrespective

of sex and age.

 

SOURCE: New Kerala (ANI)

URL: http://www.newkerala.com/news-daily/news/features.php?

action=fullnews&id=85961

[Guest guest]

Dear Friend:

 

The reference to "the Hindu month of Fagun" is not

mine; I simply posted a newspaper article that

mentioned it.

 

I assume the reference is to Phalguna (March-April).

 

Please tell me about yourself! Did you like the

article or object to it? We always appreciate member

feedback.

 

DB

 

--- Shiva & Sakthi <shivaa_us wrote:

>

>

> you are saying "Hindu month of Fagun"

> I do not find this month in the following

> calender.http://www.hindunet.org/hindu_calendar/

>

> could u please let me know which minth you are

> talking about

>

> thanks

 

 

~ aum mAtangyai namaH ~

 

In Devi's supreme cosmic form, the Satyaloka is situated on the topmost of Her

head; the Sun and Moon are her eyes; the quarters, Her ears; the Vedas are Her

words; the Universe is Her heart; the earth is Her loins; the space between

earth and sky is Her navel; the constellations are Her Thighs; the Maharaloka is

Her neck; the Janarloka is Her face; Indra and the Devas and then Svarloka are

her arms; the sound is the organ of Her ears; the fire is within her Face; day

and night are like her two wings; the mountains are Her bones; the rivers are

Her veins, and the trees are the hairs of Her body. Childhood, youth, and old

age are Her finest modes; the two twilights are Her raiment; the Moon is the

mind of the Mother of the Universe.

 

~ Devi Bhagavata Purana, VII.33.1-21

 

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