Rituals Of Night Of The Danda Nata Poem by Kumarmani Mahakul

When we see a procession of this devotional team,
We see that bhoktas or danduas come in march
After having their midnight only meal,
They all together start their procession
Playing their traditional drums
With a back-and front movement of dance,
Holding atop the portrait of Goddess Mother
A person moves around and spins in dance,
This person is known as Chhatarbauti,
This word means the holder of portrait tower,
Bhoktas holding the fire jugs sprinkle
Resin over it and the flame glowing atop
It dances with the bhoktas and all enjoy,
This fire dance ritual is performed,
The team of the Danda Nata moves around
The area of the organizing street and township,
A person holding an instrument of bamboo
Decorated with peacock feathers and small bells
Playing it and singing the songs of Danda
He too dances with other bhoktas in devotion,
Small bells with sweet tune ring in tenderness
This person is known as Binakaria or Binakara,
The main priest who conducts the worship
And under whose guidance all rituals are performed,
He is known as Pata-Bhokta and
He is considered as the team leader of bhoktas.
Already I have introduced the Danda Nata
In my previous poem of this year of 2019
Titled, "Repertory Of The Danda Nata, " and
I have expressedits beauty in another poem
Titled, " Opera In The Danda Nata -Hinjili Sana Party, "
This team performs all night rituals near the stage
Before the modern opera associated with the Danda Nata stars,
This process of the last year comes into memory,
Which passes near under Kamapalli-Lanjapalli Over-bridge,
In the area of Ramnagar of Silk City Brahmapur,
A great procession of the celebration is seen!
This celebration is done for purification
Having great trust on our only one Supreme God,
For father of heaven they follow chastity.

Procession is going on towards the street of worship,
Fire of trust is expressing the truth of existence,
Flame of fire is dancing over bhokats moving towards sky,
Deepest devotion is expressed with devotees,
People of this area have joined in this procession,
After arriving near stage they have performed,
The opening ceremony of the tower of goddess,
Drummer is playing the drum and pata-bhokta is dancing,
Finally the rare inspection is done by both
Goddess has inspected the bhoktas and bhoktas to goddess,
Few bhoktas and drummer have gone to the stage
For purifying the place of the Danda Nata,
They have performed fire-dance on the stage and gone,
Now Chadheya and Chadheyani have come into the stage,
Drummer is drumming, musician is humming,
Both bhoktas are singing and dancing with the drummer,
After this the melody will start and then opera,
People of Brahampaur are eagerly watching the Danda Nata!

Only two to three days are left to Chaitra Sankranti Day,
Their final ritualistic festival will be celebrated,
Which is called as Meru Parba,
All teams will go back to their respective places,
A timely memory of the great open theater will sing,
With much eagerness to visit the Danda Nata
We should wait for the next year again!


© Kumarmani Mahakul,12 April 2019. All rights reserved.