Adavishi Mahasabha of Jamshedpur has decided to observe Vijya Dasmi as Mahishasur and Ravana martyrdom day. The decision has been taken in a meet held at Youth Awareness Camp’s at Jamshedpur, informed Vijay Kujur the national president of the Mahasabha.
“In the camp youths were also asked to adore ‘Mahishasur’ and ‘Ravana’ at their homes as duos were our ancestors”, said Krishna Hanshda, spokesperson of the organisation. According to the media reports, the first Mahishasur Diwas was organised by the AIBSF at JNU, New Delhi in the year 2011 and later the trend is spreading consistently across the country and now being observed at a large scale.
Meanwhile breaking the myth including others Jharkhand’s Asur kids found keenly enjoying the Durga Puja amidst the call from JNU student’s groups and other tribal groups.
Asur’s are an ancient ethnic tribe and said to be the descendant of Mahishasur (a demon king). Asur do not worship any God as they believe that all Gods and Goddesses illegally joined hands and killed Mahishasur.
‘Asur’ were the one, who first made iron in the world and built Indus Valley Civilization keep themselves deep mourning during the period of Navratra or Durga Puja believing in the mythology of the demon-killing (Mahishasur) by the Goddess Durga.
“Asur people used to lock themselves inside their homes from sunrise to sunset during Navratra but now our new generations not believing in this mythology as they are attracting towards the modern life style," said Raju Asur.
"like other children, our kids forced us to visit the puja spots and melas (fair) during Durga Puja and we are compelled to fulfill their desire. Now time has been changed with impact of education, telecommunication and modern lifestyle we are forced to come out form our myth," said Raju.
"We are worried as our children mostly residing in the urban areas of in the outskirts refused to follow our beliefs; they are losing our culture. Though, we do not have any documentary evidences as our knowledge, culture and beliefs are not documented yet. Verbally we used to pass our knowledge to the next generations," said Punam Asur of Sakhuapani in the pat area of Netarhat.
“We (Asur people) used to block or close the windows and other opening of our homes with woods to keep away the sun light during Navratra," said Chamru Asur a resident of Sakhuapani at Netarhat plateau in Jharkhand. “Everything which is essentials is done only after the sunset during this period”, he added.
According to the mythology Mahishasur was the most powerful man at Swarga and Prithvi. “The God knew that human would stop worshipping them, if the Mahishasur survived for long. So they (God) joined hands and killed him dishonestly”, said Summit Asur a resident of Asur line in Majherdabri tea estate in Alipurduar at WB.
Presently Arur belongs to Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG), residing in the pat area of Netarhat plateau, Gumla, latehar, lohardaga and Palamu district in Jharkhand and Alipurduar in North Bengal (Alipurduar— a sub-divisional municipal city of Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal).