Customs/ Traditions of Agri Samaj
Three major districts of Maharashtra namely Thane, Raigad and Mumbai are shelters of Agri Samaj. Salt making, fishery at the sea coast and farming of rice are the major occupations of this community. Rice bread, steamed rice with meat and fish is their daily diet. They celebrate Ganesh Utsav, Navraatri, Hanuman Jayanti and Ram Navmi and fun fairs with lots of fun and devotion. Inspite of birth, death, marriages and all other major differences in life, this community is gifted with lovely and traditional customs along with their adventurous and prosperous occupation of fishing.
If we encounter India we find numerous religions and caste differences. Depending on the local atmosphere they have different cultures and tradition.There are lots of diversities observed. Hence our country India symbolizes unity in diversity and integrity in diversity. But these cultures, traditions and customs are nowadays declining their importance. There is great need to keep on circulating these practices so that the coming young generating can understand its importance.
Lets turn on to Agri Samaj. Agri Samaj consists of people getting their bread from farming, salt making and fishing as these being their main occupation. Not just men but women also help in earning the daily bread. Women take care of their house as well as manage the professional transactions. This is the major reason why there is no dowry systems experience in this community .
These people celebrate marriage with lots of fun and enjoyment. Haldi ceremony is held before the day of marriage. On this day men and women gather and dance freely with all means of freedom. All young and elder women are provided freedom to dance and they are nowhere bounded with any specific fencing. This shows what a free atmosphere the men and women experience here.
Major change or turning point in an individual's life is the time he marries someone. No role of dowry system is observed strictly in this community. Giving of dowry as well as acceptance of dowry both are considered to be taboo. If we go through India's history we find lot many cases of dominating and suppressing women for dowry. But women in this community are pretty safe. There is a great need to adopt these type of customs and tradition by other religions. Big people always say that take good thing from anything and throw away all bad thing from everything. This encourages people like us to accept such good traditions.
This Samaj is considered to be low caste but it has qualities that overcome Brahmin Samaj even. This is required to be pampered freely so that these people in this community do not hesitate to freely express themselves.
Sanskriti
In Maharashtra, there are mainly three districts(Raighad, Thane & Mumbai) where we can see people of Agri Samaj. The actual business of Agri people is fishing, salt production and paddy farming . They have Fish, Rice and Bhakari as their food. 'Ganesh Utsav' which comes in the 'marathi' month of Bhadrapad, the fare of RamNavami ,Hanuman Jayanti and Navratri are some of their main festivals. Along with this, Agri Samaj believes in all the cultures.The main thing of Agri Samaj is that they do not believe in Dowry system.
The origin of Agri Samaj is farming. This is a culture of hardworking people and the farmers who love the nature. All men and women work together for their homes, fields and salt production. Along with togetherness we can see equality in the Men and Women of Agri Samaj.
FESTIVALS
Gavachi Jatara
There is a major attraction to Jatra in this community. Jatra is nothing but fun-fair. Mostly celebrated in the Chaitra month of the Hindu Calendar, fun-fair in agri samaj is the symbol of their communal integrity. Generally these village fun-fairs are celebrated for worshipping the village.
Generally these village fun-fairs are celebrated for worshipping the village goddess so that the goddess protects these villagers from all sorts of natural calamities and disasters. The village goddess is worshipped by elderly and young people of the village. During such fun fair people in other villages are also invited and there is colourful and pleasant and loving atmosphere. The major food eaten on this day is deliciously cooked meat with nicely baked bhakris. Also lots of sweet is sold in fun-fair of expressing the happiness.
There are different types of stalls for bangles, cosmetics, food items, sweets, games. For children there are giant wheels, merry go round. There is a chance for the ladies and young girls to roam freely without any botherance and fright. People do lots of shopping for themselves, their children and friends and enjoy a lot.
Ganesh Jayanti
Hindus have major devotion towards Lord Ganpati. Similarly Agri Samaj also worships Ganpati whole-heartedly. Ganesh Utsav is celebrated for worshipping Gauri and Ganpati Bhagwan. This Utsav is celebrated in the month of Bhadrapad. During this period farmers and fishermen don't have much work to do. So this festival is celebrated for a longer time in a relaxing mood.
Lots of preparation are done before Ganesh Chaturthi. Ganesh Chathurthi is the day when the people bring a Ganpati (statue of Lord Ganesh) at their home. They make lots of decoration. Some people celebrate this feast for 5,7,10,21 or even for 30 days.
Jaagran is observed during this feast. Jaagran is celebrated by worshipping God whole heartedly and without sleep. Many guests come for visiting these days. On the last day of the Utsav the Ganesh moorti is released in the sea or river or lake with lots of happiness and celebration.
Holi
Holi is celebrated in the month of phalgun according to hindu methology.This day is celebrtated for destroying bad nature in minde and he hate betrayal animity,anger,
Delicious puri, puran poli, karanj ladu,gulabjamun,
Narali Poornima is the most important and major festival of Agri Samaj. According to Hindu Mythology this feast arrives in Sharavan month. Actually Agri and Koli communities mainly depend on fishery as their main occupation i.e. they are closely related to sea. This is the major reason behind this Narali Poornima being their main fest.
From the monsoon times the sea shows very aggressive nature . In order to calm down the temper of the Sea Lord this feast is celebrated. During this feast people in agri-koli Samaj devote or release a golden coconut in the sea and pray for calmness and protection of their boats and ships they use in sea during fishing. All elders and younger in this community gather at the sea coast to worship the Sea Lord.
All people in the village celebrate this day by dancing, singing and then worshipping on the sea coast. After worship and prayer is done all fishermen go in the sea for fishing and start fishing from that day after a halt in the rainy season. That is why this is the most important festival of Agri Samaj.
"I AM PROUD TO BE AN AGRI"
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