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Showing posts from July, 2010

Border issues

Check out these abandoned wooden idols. They are called Gadi Maari gombe s. Gadi means 'border', Maari is short for Maaramma , a Goddess and Gombe means idol/ doll. Part of your landscape if you live in the Malnad region of Karnataka, you will come across these abandoned figurines on the outskirts of towns and villages. Maari/ Maaramma, Chaudi/ Chaudeshwari, Gutti/ Guttamma, .... are some of the popular guardian Gods of Malnad. They are mainly worshipped for protection - from diseases, ghosts,..... Maari is usually worshipped for protection from contagious diseases. Sometime towards the end of summer and before the onset of the rains (the disease season!), a committee of villagers - belonging to various communities, decide to perform the pooja . First, the idol is carved - usually out of some holy tree like the Banyan or the Jack. Unfortunately, I don't know anything about the rituals. I have never been invited and I have absolutely no intentions of gate-crashing!