Amus Tihar (Hariyali Amavasya)

The Muria tribal society counts the month as the Hindu month, but even after its first month is Ashadha, it considers its first festival to be Hariyali Amavasya celebrated in the new moon of Shravan month. The nature-loving rural society celebrates this festival to welcome the greenery in the earth. In Hindi it is called Hariyali Amavasya, Halbi, Hareli Tihar in Chhattisgarhi and "Amus Tihar" in Gondi. The tribal Muria community takes preparatory measures throughout the year to avoid witchcraft, to protect their pets and animals from diseases, and to protect the crop sown by their labour from pest infestation. In fact, it is a festival of farmers, in which he worships his traditional agricultural equipment. This is the reason that this festival has great importance in the folk life of Bastar.

The night before the new moon of Shravan month is considered very frightening by the tribal Muria society. Even today, superstition is prevalent in rural areas. Not only in Bastar but also in the rural areas of Chhattisgarh, it is believed that on this day, women who practice witchcraft come out in the first half night of Amavasya to increase their power; They are called "Paretin" in Chhattisgarhi, "Churlahin" in Halbi and "Otohrande" in Gondi. They come out of their homes and go to "Kharkadand", Kharkadand means that just as there is a gothan for the rest of the cows and bulls in the middle of the village, similarly this uninhabited place is for these black magic women. At this place, these women do sadhana naked and later drink the blood of small children and women. Due to this, children and women also get sick and die.

Elementary measures are taken to avoid these sorcery in every household in rural areas. For example, a black line is drawn by burning cloth or straw at the entrance of the house or a fishing net is tied at this door. Due to this, he could not enter the Pichasni house. Children are given garlic stains to prevent their foul smell from drinking blood. The grain of mustard or mandia is scattered in the bed, in which many such measures are taken to make the pitch tangled.  Sirha and  Guniyas of the Muria tribals bind the village in their own way. The elders of the house take extra precautions in this terrible black night.

On the second day of this night, on the new moon day of Shravan month, farmers or villagers wake up early in the morning and go to the forest and from there bring the dagal of "Bhelwan", "Nal" of the Satavari plant, "Rasna Jadi" and a tendu wooden pole. After coming to the house, satavari placenta, rasna jadi, and Bhilwan leaves are mixed in flour or rice and fed to the pets. All these medicinal properties are plants, which do not cause any disease throughout the year by feeding them to cows and bulls. This work is done by the shepherd, but in the village where there is no shepherd, this work is done by the adolescent children. In return, the people of the house offer them money. In the same way, Tendu takes a wooden pole and buries it in the field and wraps the cord of Satavari on it and buries the Dagal of Bhilwan with it. Bhilawan’s dagal and satavari’s naal act as insect repellent. Birds that eat insects sit in tendu poles and protect the crops. In this way, initial measures are taken to protect pets and crops from diseases.

On the day of Hariyali Amavasya, the teenager boys of the village bring wood from the forest to make Gedi, the knowledgeable person makes Gedi. In Hindi it is called Gedi, in Halbi it is called "Ghodondi" and in Gondi it is called "Ditong. The Muria tribal society believes that "Ghorandi Dev" is pleased by climbing Gedi. Climbing the rope is a game of balance, it keeps health good. In the rainy season, there is mud in the streets, the boys easily do small tasks in a game by climbing the streets. A variety of games are played by climbing into it. Gedi dance is also performed. It is not a traditional dance of Muria society, yet it is very popular in the society. On this day, the farmer washes and cleans all his traditional agricultural tools, decorates them neatly and duly worships them with Lali, Betel nut, Coconut, Incense sticks incense and on this day offers a dish called "Arinj" i.e. Bada made of urad dal made at home. On this day, the blacksmith of the village makes small nails and knocks them at the door of all the houses of the village. This is called "pegging. The belief behind this is that no one will enter the house throughout the year due to its knocking.

Hariyali Amavasya of Shravan month is also a festival for the tribal Muria society. On this day, people of Muria tribe do Jogani of Zirra Bhaji and Dhoba Bhaji. For this, after eating lunch in the afternoon, a person from each house of the village takes some rice, wine and chick or egg and takes the village Devti Sthal (Jagarani) which the people of Muria tribe consider as the place of Mati Mata (Talur Mutte. Where all the gods of the village gather in the place where the work is done. They give the material brought with them to the village soil. Mati sings Mati Mata, Ravdev, Kaina and Kaudo and duly worships them and sacrifices the chick to Mati Mata. After this, he offers Jirrabhaji and Dhoba Bhaji brought with him to all the gods. After this, he worships the nearby hill on which the place of Ravdev is believed to be and sacrifices the egg. Alcohol is offered in both places. After this, the rice brought by everyone is cooked. Sitting in a circle, everyone consumes alcohol and eats cooked food. In this way, the Muria tribal society celebrates the Saad of Jinra Bhaji and Dhoba Bhaji on the day of Hariyali Amavasya, which they call Amus Tihar.