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Nag Leela Festival: In Janjgir Champa district, an attempt was made to revive the old tradition once again and the local youth together started a three-day Nag Leela at the district headquarters.
Nag Leela Festival: In Janjgir Champa district, an attempt was made to revive the old tradition once again and the local youth together started a three-day Nag Leela at the district headquarters. After organizing a fair for two days in the three-day Nagleela Mahotsav, Nag Leela was performed in the historic Bhima Pond on the third day. People from all sections along with children and youth took part to watch this festival.
Earlier, when there were no resources for entertainment in rural areas, people used to spend more time in religious activities. In big villages, different types of songs, music and cultural and religious programs were organized especially in different seasons. At the same time, after harvesting of paddy, farmers used to go with their families in the evening to enjoy Nag Leela and do shopping in Madai Mela. In Janjgir too, similar event was organized by the elders 30 to 35 years ago, but with the passage of time, people’s source of entertainment started changing and now resources like mobile phones have come in the hands of children and parents are now going to doctors and psychologists to get rid of this mobile addiction of children, in such a situation, the old tradition is being started. An initiative has been taken to introduce children to the old culture, a crowd of people from all walks of life gathered to see it.
What is Naag Leela?
In Nagaleela, the leela performed by Lord Krishna in his childhood to end the terror of Kaliya Naga in river Yamuna by poisoning him is celebrated as Nag Leela Mahotsav. To perform Nag Leela, first of all a pond is selected, and a stage and boat is made by tying the drum with a rope in it, in which attractive decorations are made and in the same drum, Lord Krishna and Kaliya Nag are made along with the singing and dancing troupe, then Lord Krishna is made to sit near Kaliya Nag and is taken around the pond with fireworks and dance and even today, crowds of people gather to see that unique sight.
