Stepping into Joy – How Tripura’s Tribal Community Celebrates Gauria Baba Pooja

Keywords: Gauria Baba Pooja, Jamatia Tribe, Tripura Festival, Tribal Culture, Religious Celebration, Vaisakh Festival, Community Event, Tripura Traditions, Indigenous Culture

      Every year in Tripura, people from the Jamatia tribe come together to celebrate a very special festival – Gauria Baba Pooja. This is not just a religious event; it is a time when the whole community joins hands to celebrate their culture, traditions, and togetherness.

     The festival is held in many villages and blocks of Tripura and lasts for seven days. It is led by the Jamatia Houda, the main organization of the Jamatia tribe. But everyone in the community takes part – each family brings rice, which is made into a local rice beer called Hadia. This is offered to the god and also shared among everyone, bringing people closer together.

How the Festival Begins

     The first day starts early in the morning. The idol of Gauria Baba is bathed and taken to the puja ground in a big procession. People from all communities, not just Jamatias, join the prayers and come with hopes and wishes for good health, happiness, and a good harvest.

     The idol of Gauria Baba is very special. One side of its golden face shows the god’s image, and the other side shows a goddess. This face is kept safely and reused every year. The rest of the idol is made with bamboo and is placed in water at the end of the festival to show a new beginning.

     Before this main puja begins, prayers are also done for Tripureshwari Devi, a powerful local goddess. Then a traditional buffalo sacrifice is done to begin the week-long celebration.

A Week Full of Rituals and Joy

    Each day of the week has different rituals led by a team of priests under the head priest known as Khaer Feng. On the seventh day, the biggest crowd gathers. At least one person from every Jamatia family comes, especially women wearing new clothes. They bring fruits, flowers, and incense. Special food called Prasad is cooked in brand new stoves and pots to keep it pure.

    Animal sacrifice is a big part of the puja. Some families offer goats, while others offer buffaloes. They do this as a way of saying thank you for wishes that came true or to ask for blessings. The head of the animal is offered to Gauria Baba, and the rest of the meat is shared with everyone.

Preparations and Community Spirit

    People start preparing for the festival a month before it begins. Together, they make the idol of Gauria Baba and take it from village to village. Along with the idol, people dressed as Bogla – who are like the god’s helpers – walk in the procession. They sometimes dress in funny clothes and carry traditional weapons. They also help anyone who gets sick during the celebrations.

    There is music, dancing, and lots of fun. People dance joyfully when the idol reaches and the puja starts. The golden face of the idol is believed to have been gifted by the royal family of Tripura. Even when the original was lost, the Tripura government made a new one to keep the tradition alive.

More Than Just a Festival

    Gauria Baba Pooja is not just about praying. It’s about unity, love, and forgiveness. People pray for their families, their state, and the whole country. It helps keep the culture of the Jamatia tribe alive and strong.

     In a world where many old traditions are disappearing, this festival is a beautiful example of how people can keep their heritage alive. Held during the holy month of Vaisakh, Gauria Baba Pooja is the most important celebration for the Jamatia people – a time of joy, love, and strong cultural pride.