Art & Culture    
Two Nights with the Spirits
Bhuta Nrtya in Kondla – 7
by Neria Harish Hebbar, MD

The End

The Brahmin priest plays an important role in the two nights of ceremonies.  He is the conductor of the proceedings.  He knows the history of each bhuta’s travels and their heroics from the past.  He answers the questions posed to him in order to appease the bhuta.  The idea is not to agitate the spirit.

The villagers left the scene in the early hours of the morning, happily looking forward to another year of safety and protection by their beloved spirit gods.  The bhutas of both Upper and Lower Kondla were satisfied with the people for their faith.  People of the village of Neria had done their duty.

I went home for a diurnal slumber feeling quite safe.  When I awoke late that morning, I wondered as to how long such an ancient practice can be supported in rapidly changing India.  Will the people a hundred years from now still have the same faith they now have in their bhutas?  Or will they say that these are blind faiths and ignore and rescind Hallathayi, Raktheswari, Pili-Chamundi and Kadapu Panjurli?  Will they just be forgotten words, not even recounted in the Pad-danas?

The faithful villagers feel reassured

But then I reassured myself.  Other centuries-old practices have become integral parts of Indian culture.  India is averse to change, especially when it comes to tradition and faith.  The longevity of the bhutas of Kondla may surprise us all.

The ornaments are returned for safekeeping and the landlord is thanked for his patronage of the bhutas of Kondla

The ornaments of the bhutas were returned to the landlord’s house for safekeeping for another year.  The bhuta dancers were paid an extra amount and the women folks were given saris and other household items.  They all left with smiles on their faces, exhausted but already looking forward to next year’s festivities.

April 23, 2006

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