Pandhurna, September 3 (Daily Kiran) : The historic ‘Gotmar Mela’ is scheduled to take place on September 11 along the banks of the Jam River, where two villages will once again face off in a centuries-old stone-throwing tradition. This event, held between Pandhurna and Sawargaon in Madhya Pradesh, continues despite a tragic history that has claimed over 18 lives.
Local reports indicate that approximately fifty participants are injured each year, with past incidents resulting in over 100 injuries. This year, local authorities are determined to maintain the tradition while preventing any further loss of life.
Collector Neeraj Kumar Vashistha convened a peace committee meeting at Lakshmi Smriti Bhavan, emphasizing that the festival will proceed in its traditional manner but with stricter regulations. He warned that those using slingshots, known as ‘gofan,’ will face severe penalties.
Medical personnel and an ambulance will be present at the event, and extensive arrangements will be made for safety and traffic management. To reduce crowd size, the weekly market has been postponed until September 8.
Vashistha appealed to residents to uphold the tradition without putting lives at risk. “People’s lives are invaluable to their families. Stay safe and celebrate responsibly,” he urged. He also advised both villages to cease the stone-throwing once the flag placed in the river is torn down before sunset.
The origins of the festival are steeped in local folklore, recounting a tragic story from years ago. A young man from Pandhurna eloped with a woman from Sawargaon. When their families confronted them by the Jam River, both were killed by stones thrown in the ensuing chaos. Since then, the two villages have commemorated this event by throwing stones at each other each year.
The ritual begins with prayers to Goddess Chandi. Villagers from Sawargaon plant a palash tree in the river, tying a flag to it, symbolizing their daughter. Participants then hurl stones at each other from the riverbanks. The side that uproots the palash tree is declared the winner and takes it to the temple of Goddess Chandi for worship.
Despite appeals from various NGOs and community organizations to end this dangerous tradition, ‘Gotmar Mela’ remains a potent symbol of local identity and memory. Officials are hopeful that this year’s festival will blend tradition with enhanced safety measures to ensure it proceeds without further incidents.
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