 |
||
       |
||
 |
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
FAIRS AND FESTIVALS MELA
RELIGION AND CULTURE :-
Chatra has been a seat of religious tolerance from time immemorial .It is mainly famous
for "Shakti" cult. The noted seat of this cult is to be found in Hunterganj and
Itkhori blocks .Some Muslim shrines are located in Pratappur block and Chatra sadar.
Kauleshwari Devi Temple is situated on the top of kolhua hill at the height of
1575' in Hunterganj block. It contains some ruined temples and historical monuments. It is
the place of pilgrimage for the Hindus , the Buddhists and the jains Tirthankers. Its
antiquity goes back to 10th century B.C. Here figures of Gautam Budha in meditation
posture are also sculptured on the rock belonging to the period of Harshvardhana who was
an ardent follower of the Mahayana doctrine of Budhism. There is a temple of Maa Kali
known as Kauleshwari Devi or Kuleshwari Devi
the revered deity of the kol community.
People co-relate this place with epic age i.e. the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. On Basant
Panchmi and Ram Navmi a large number of pilgrims flock to the hill top for worship. It is
a fascinating and enchanting picnic spot with a very beautiful trekking of an hour
duration.
Itkhori block
headquarters has a famous temple of Bhadrakali where a happy mingling of Hindu,Jain and
Budha deities may be seen. Budha deity Tara can be seen here in black stone image. It also
has an inscription of the time of the king Mahendra
pal Deva. Dr. Grierson in his notes on Gaya District (pp.3,4) has given a description of
the Budhist stupa at Bhadrakali complex of Itkhori. A Pair of foot prints is also
visitable. It is associated with Sheetal Nath the 10th Trithankar of Jainism. It is also
associated with Mallinath the 19th Tirthanker and Parswanath the 23rd Tirthanker. The
Hindus worship goddess Kali as Bhadrakali. The whole area is full of historical and
cultural heritages.
There is a shrine of Data Amir Ali shah at Barura Sharif on the bank of Sat Bahini river
in Pratappur It is said that the sufi saint
came here in the latter half of the 18th century. The Hindus and the Muslim alike come
here to pay respect to the reverend saint at his Mazaar. People suffering from evil
spirits come here in large number and get themselves cured.
There is a
Mazaar (Shrine) of Data Faham Khyal Shah at Rabda Sharif in Pratappur who was contemporary to Data Amir Ali Shah of
Barura Sharif. Here annual fair of the saint is celebrated with pomp and grandeur. In
Jatrahibagh there is a graveyard .It is said that Muslim
soldiers of the 1857 mutiny were buried here . It is also known as Anjan Shahid .During
British period annual fair was held, hence it is called Jatrahibagh.
In Gudri Bazar Mohalla of Chatra there is a
Sangat of Udasi Panth of Sikh doctrine where there is an old script of the Holy Gurugranth
Saheb. It is venerated at this place and is kept in high esteem by the Sikhs and the
Hindus as well.
Thus, Chatra is an emblem of communal harmony where the Hindus, the Muslims and the Sikhs
reside in peace and harmony.
The population of S.T. in the district is not very significant but they use sadri or
Nubndari (Tribal Language) among themselves.
There is nothing to be specially mentioned about the art and Craft in this District, but
handcraft like Tokri (Basket),Biri,Pattal(Leaves Plate) etc. making is the source of
livelihood. MUSIC and DANCES :
Folk music is poplular in the rural areas of the District are usually presented on
important festivals, marriages and on other occasion. particularly the tribal dances are
rythmic. |
|
