A festival of Marbat, which is marked only in the district of Nagpur in Maharashtra is being celebrated today. Over thousands of people gather on the streets and take out a procession of effigies called as Marbats. These are clay effigies of Kali (black) and Pivli or Pili (yellow) which are burnt later. These effigies are a symbol of evil forces which are then burnt by the locals. Kali Pili Marbat 2019 celebration is underway and a few pictures from the processions were shared online.

Prakash Gaurkar, President of Marbat Nagoba Devasthan told in a report, the effigies are made way earlier at the Pili Marbat temple at Jagnath Budhwari and carried through the streets on the day of Marbat. "These effigies or statues are put on fire at Naik Talao.  It’s believed that these statues absorb the negativity and social evils when they are taken through the streets. And then the negativity and social evils are burnt along with the statues," he told Nation Next. Bail Pola 2019 Date, Wishes & Images: Significance and Celebrations Associated With Bull-Respecting Festival Observed on Shravan Amavasya.

History and Significance of Marbat

The processions of Kali Marbat have started way back in the year 1881. Pili Marbat celebrations date back to the year 1885. Started by the Tanhane Teli Samaj, it was observed as an opposition to the bizarre rules and regulations of the British rulers. The idea behind this celebratory procession is to drive out the evils from society and then burn them. People celebrate being a part of the celebration by dancing, showering flower petals on the effigy statues.

View Pics of the Celebrations in Nagpur:

This festival is celebrated with another popular festival of Pola, which takes place on the last day of the Hindu month of Shravana. This year, Marbat celebrations have entered in its 140th year. According to legend, the Teli community would take small dolls out in the procession, representing the evils and then burn them together with the effigies. These dolls are a symbol of all diseases and evil spirits that they believe have pestered them.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 31, 2019 03:08 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).