Bohada's Mask Magic Transcending Generations

Gajanan Khergamker writes that in North Maharashtra, according to tradition, Palghar District's Mokhada taluka stands as a testament to a 250-year-old festival that reaches its climax in the final three days, immersing its residents in a magical realm of a mythological past. The tribal mask festival called Bohada is celebrated in Mokhada roughly during the Shimga festival, and spans a duration of five to 15 days. Remarkably, each participating tribal member has been engaging in the festival for generations, cherishing fond memories of family members dancing throughout the night adorned in age-old masks and costumes.

In North Maharashtra, as tradition has it, Palghar District's Mokhada taluka bears testimony to the 250-year-old festival that peaks in the last three days, transporting its residents into a magical realm of a mythological past.

Charged with age-old charm, the nights in this Palghar town, known for its dependence on nature and traditional local healers, come alive with flaming mashaals accompanying the vibrantly hued masked entities dancing with wild abandon to the beats of the sambal and the mesmerizing tune of shehnai played by Warli musicians.

Local performers adorning colourful masks of deities, over generations together, are guided by revelers through one end of the road till the other. Some carrying mashaals move through the dark of the night and amidst a swiftly surging sea of the devout, bringing to life the legendary festivities once again, the day after Holi on Dhulandi, at Mokhada.

The traditional welcome to the gavdevi, Jagdamba Devi is associated with ceremonial dances of mythological characters from Ramayana, Mahabharat, etc., and include Lord Ganesha, Goddess Saraswati or Sharada, Ravana, Bheem, Tratika, etc.

The tribal mask festival called Bohada is celebrated in Mokhada roughly during the Shimga festival, as Holi is known in Konkan region, and extends from five to 15 days depending on the zone. Interestingly, each tribal partaking in the festival has been doing so for over generations and harbours fond memories of his father, even grandfather dancing all night long while adorning an age-old mask and costume that goes back into a sacred prayer area in his house, after each festival, to emerge again the next year.