Latest news with #Banjaras
The Hindu
12-08-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Former MP Seetaram Naik makes an appeal to declare Teej a State festival
Former MP from Mahabubabad Azmeera Seetaram Naik has made a strong pitch for declaring the age-old Teej festival of Lambadi-Banjara community an official festival. 'The nine-day Teej festival is celebrated during the month of Shravan in Lambadi tandas. It denotes greenery, prosperity and wealth. It is living proof that Banjaras are worshippers of nature,' said in a statement. For the Lambadi-Banjara community, protecting their roots and traditions is not merely preserving customs; Teej is the foundation of their identity as worshippers of nature and a symbol of unity, he added. 'It reflects our identity, pride, the lifestyle of our ancestors, devotion and respect for nature and the bonds of family. Passing these traditions to future generations, preserving cultural heritage, instilling devotion and pride among youth is the responsibility of all of us.' However, due to lack of awareness or the influence of modern trends, Teej seems to be losing importance in some tandas, he pointed out and said, 'Therefore, we earnestly appeal to continue this festival without interruption.'
Hans India
12-08-2025
- General
- Hans India
Lambadas urge govt to declare Teej as official festival of TG
Hyderabad: The word Teej means greenery, prosperity, abundance, a source of eight kinds of wealth, and an auspicious sign for all good events. This festival originates from the Puranic story of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. To attract the attention of Lord Shiva, who was in deep penance in the Himalayas, Goddess Parvati also undertook intense penance. Through the power of her vow, she finally attained Lord Shiva as her husband. This day has been celebrated as Teej Divas for nine days with devotion, joy, and traditional festivities in parts of North India, Nepal, and in the South—especially among the Banjaras under various names, as passed down from their ancestors. On Tuesday, as part of a picnic-style gathering, the community goes outside the Tanda and installs a symbolic stone representation of Sheetla Bhavani under a tree, worshipping it traditionally. On the same evening, wheat grains are soaked in a pot at the leader's house. The next evening (Wednesday), the soaked wheat is sown in small bamboo baskets filled with some manure. Along with these baskets, teakwood baskets are prepared in the names of Dandi Merama Mata and Sadguru Shri Shri Sevalal Maharaj. These are hung from wooden poles or placed on a canopy at the leader's house and covered with a tent. Two marriageable girls serve as priestesses for the next nine days. From that day onwards, women fetch water three times a day from a nearby well or pond, pour it into the baskets, and nurture the wheat until the immersion ceremony. Each basket belongs to one girl. This festival is living proof that the Banjaras are worshippers of nature.
The Hindu
09-08-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Banjara voices from Telangana speak of pride, struggle and the fight to preserve a fading heritage
As the world observes the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples, individuals from Telangana's Banjara community have shared their journey, the challenges they continue to face, and their efforts to preserve a cultural heritage that is at risk of fading. The Banjaras, also known as Lambadis, are among India's oldest nomadic tribal groups, spread across nearly 15 States. They are known for their distinctive attire, jewellery, traditions and language. A scholar's decades-long journey For Surya Dhananjay, Vice-Chancellor of Veeranari Chakali Ilamma Women's University, the road from a modest indigenous background to academic leadership was long and demanding. 'My path was filled with struggle for at least three decades before I could reach my present position,' she said. Her career spans higher education, research, teaching and public service, with a focus on documenting tribal history, preserving indigenous cultures and advocating for constitutional rights. 'We must document oral histories, safeguard traditional dress, crafts, and music, promote festivals and introduce the Banjara language in schools, colleges and universities. We also need community museums, cultural centres and digital archives, with youth playing a central role. The Banjara community, like other tribal groups, faces poverty, landlessness and low educational access. Women in particular face heavy workloads, limited decision-making power and poor access to healthcare,' she added. She called for a separate State-level ST Commission, recognition of Banjara Boli as an endangered language, and its inclusion in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. A writer's call for clarity and courage Writer and poet Ramesh Karthik Nayak who is the youngest and the first Telugu author to be honoured with the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Yuva Puraskar 2024 believes that while art and scholarship are important, real change must begin in the villages. Mr. Ramesh challenges the perception that the Banjara are uniformly well-settled compared to other tribal groups. 'Yes, some have done well, but that does not mean everyone has. Many work as auto drivers, gig workers, gardeners or gatekeepers in Hyderabad. We tend to focus on the few who get national awards or become IAS officers, but the struggles of others remain invisible.' He adds that discrimination is a shared experience with other marginalised groups. Mr. Ramesh hopes to see more indigenous literature across Indian languages, especially from the 33 to 35 tribal communities in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. 'We need more tribal people telling their own stories, and society must give them the time, space and respect they deserve. I hope our literacy rate increases, not just for the Banjara, but for all tribal communities.' Art as preservation For artist Srinivas Nayak, heritage is kept alive on canvas. Encouraged by his school drawing teacher he pursued a Bachelor of Fine Arts before dedicating himself to full-time painting. His works capture the flowing skirts, embroidered blouses, mirror work and heavy jewellery that once defined Lambada attire. 'Our elders' clothes carried meaning in every stitch. Now, very few wear them, and these customs are disappearing. Through my paintings, I try to preserve what is vanishing,' he said. While education and urban migration have brought opportunity, Mr. Srinivas laments the slowly disappearing of cultural identity. 'Children today often do not know our songs or embroidery patterns. Some cannot even speak our dialect.' Meanwhile, social media has become an ally for Mr. Srinivas. 'When I post portraits of Lambada women in traditional dress, people respond with pride and nostalgia. Some even ask for portraits in that style. It is a small way of keeping our heritage alive,' he said.
Time of India
08-07-2025
- Time of India
French tourist robbed of 2.5 lakh on JL Nehru Rd
1 2 Kolkata: A 61-year-old French tourist fell victim to a well-orchestrated theft near the Indian Museum when a group of gypsies allegedly stole his passport and 2,500 Euros — worth Rs 2.5 lakh — on Monday afternoon. The victim, Thierry Michel Delort from Paris, was walking along Jawaharlal Nehru Road around 12.06 pm when the incident occurred. The theft occurred in front of 30, Jawaharlal Nehru Road, a busy area typically crowded with tourists and locals. C ops recovered the entire looted amount by Tuesday evening after arresting a receiver, Md Ishtiaque, from Sudder Street after following his movement from Zakaria Street. According to police, Delort was approached by several members of the gypsy children (Jajabars or Banjaras who keep shifting their place of stay) who engaged him in play, creating a distraction while women from the group allegedly carried out the theft. "The victim is a frequent visitor to Kolkata, making at least two trips annually to meet friends," said a senior cop from Park Street Police Station, which has registered the case. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like An engineer reveals: One simple trick to get internet without a subscription Techno Mag Learn More Undo "He was completely unaware of being targeted while interacting with the children," added the officer. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata The victim, who resides at Rue Malte Brun in Paris, immediately reported the incident to local authorities. "We are investigating the movement of these gypsies who come here every six to nine months. The CCTV footage collected from the spot has been circulated to the neighbouring police stations to locate them," said the investigating officer. Park Street Police have slapped section 303(2) BNS based on Delort's complaint. Investigators are analysing CCTV footage from the area, which has been shared with neighbouring police stations to track down the suspects.
