Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel reached Janjgiri in Chhattisgarh’s Durg on Monday to celebrate the traditional ‘Gaura-Gauri’ puja. As a part of the rituals of the occasion, CM Baghel got his arms whipped. It is believed that receiving this whiplash on the festival would keep off bad omens.
The tradition, known as ‘Sota’, saw the presence of many people who had gathered to witness their Chief Minister perform the ritual for the well-being of the people of his state.
#WATCH | Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel gets whip-lashed on the arm as a part of a ritual on the day of 'Gaura-Gauri' pooja, a day after Diwali, in Janjgir of Durg pic.twitter.com/l79SHF6aUQ— ANI (@ANI) November 13, 2023
As per news agency ANI, CM Baghel told media that the “beautiful tradition” is celebrated for everyone’s prosperity.
“There is a ritual of ‘Gaura Guari’ in our Chhattisgarh. The whole night, ‘Gaura Gauri’ is being made and in the morning, people worship them. In front of ‘Gaura Gauri’, everyone is equal”, the chief minister said.
He further said, “I believe that the occasion represents equality and that’s why this is celebrated as everyone is equal before the almighty.”
The tradition of “Gaura-Gauri puja’ upholds the symbolic marriage between Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati and is performed by the Gond tribes, during the Diwali festival. During the day-time, the people first go to river bank to collect clay and then same night they make Gaura (Lord Shiva) in one house and Gauri (Parvati) in another house. They whole night is spent to make these idols of Gaura-Gauri, following which the symbolic marriage between them takes place.
The state of Chhattisgarh will be undergoing the assembly polls this month and is one among the five states that is poll-bound this month. The voting will happen in two phases with the first phase of 20 seats concluding on November 7. The remaining 70 seats will go for polling in the second phase, on November 17. The counting of votes will be done on December 3.