Gandhinagar: To mark the 150th birth anniversary of the hero of the tribal community, Bhagwan Birsa Munda, the national-level celebration of Janjatiya Gaurav Divas will be presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Dediapada in Narmada district. During his visit to Narmada district, the Prime Minister will offer prayers at the famous Yaha Mogi Devmogra Dham. Nestled amid the natural beauty of the Satpura mountain range, this enchanting dham is a centre of deep faith for the tribal community and carries unparalleled spiritual significance.

Devmogra Dham temple in the Satpura mountain range resembles Nepal’s Pashupatinath Temple

The temple of Pandori Mata (Yahamogi), the clan deity of the tribal community, is located at Devmogra in Sagbara taluka of Narmada district. In this shrine, situated in the lap of nature amid the gorges of the Satpura mountains, the self-manifested Yaha Pandori Devmogra Mata has been enshrined as Kani-Kansari since time immemorial. Here, tribal communities from Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan worship Yahamogi Pandori as their clan deity with immense devotion, reverence, and faith. This sacred Heladab has held a unique spiritual glory since ancient times.

Thousands of years ago, when this region faced a severe drought, the Goddess herself resided at Devmogra Dham. Due to the devastating drought, food and water became scarce, and animals, birds, and people alike suffered. During this challenging period, Gorya Kothar, the guardian of the people in this region, began distributing essential grains. However, as time passed and the grain stores of Gorya Kothar too began to empty, his foster daughter Yaha Pandori assumed the form of Kani-Kansari and took charge of distributing food grains. Since then, the grain stores have never run empty. From ancient times to the present day, the Goddess’s granaries have always remained full for all of humanity.

At this temple in Devmogra village of Sagbara taluka, lakhs of devotees across generations have arrived with faith in their hearts, seeking solace from their sorrows and answers to their difficulties at the feet of the Goddess. The temple priest invokes the Goddess and offers blessings, praying for the well-being of every individual. It is believed that anyone who comes weeping before the Goddess returns with a smiling and comforted heart.

Mahashivratri Fair: A Unique Glimpse into Tribal Folk Culture

The grand Gadh Yatra (fort procession) is organised every year on Mahashivratri at Devmogra, the abode of Raja Pantha-Vinadev. In this procession, the Goddess (Mataji) is traditionally taken with musical instruments and dance to bathe in a natural spring situated amidst the forests and mountains of the fort. Furthermore, after worshipping the Goddess, the forecast for the coming year’s agriculture, rainfall, and weather is made through a ritual. Thousands of devotees plan their agricultural activities for the year in advance based on this forecast. During the fair, the Kakal tree in the courtyard of the Goddess miraculously blooms overnight. In the morning, devotees witness these flowers and believe that the direction with the most flowers will experience the best agricultural yield throughout the year.

The fair, held for five consecutive days every year from Maha Vad Amas to the day before Mahashivratri, presents a unique display of tribal folk culture. Millions of devotees gather to seek the Goddess’s blessings, creating a truly joyous scene. To the left of the main shrine, devotees also reverently worship the dark-complexioned idol of Mahakali Mata. Thus, two Goddesses are enshrined in the same temple.

Devmogra Dham: A Living Symbol of Tribal Faith, Tradition, and Culture

For thousands of years, the tribal community has upheld its unique tradition of reverently placing the new harvest in a bamboo basket. They tie bundles of vegetables and worship items (called hiri or hijari) and carry them on their heads. Dressed in vibrant attire, with women adorned in gold and silver jewellery, they set out on the festive Hob Yatra with music and celebration. After observing a month-long vow and worship, they offer grains to Yaha Pandori Devmogra with deep devotion and only then consume the new harvest. Thus, Devmogra Dham is not just a shrine but a living symbol of the faith, traditions, and culture of the tribal community.

During the Holi-Dhuleti festival, local Gheriyas (folk performers) leave their homes for over a month, going from house to house, forming groups and performing with heartfelt enthusiasm. Adorned in vibrant attire representing the nine rasas (emotional flavours), they sing and dance with joy. On the eve of Holi, the sacred fire is lit at Holi Chowk, and women, dressed in traditional costumes, join the celebration by singing Lole (folk songs of Holi), dancing to musical instruments, and rejoicing in the festive spirit.