GULBARGA: Have you seen tigers running? If not, you can come and see the running of tigers, not real but that of their effigies, at Degaon village of Aland taluk which is about 35 Kms from Gulbarga city on the last day of the Jatra of Shekh Hazarat Jindavali-Jai Bajarang Bali which falls on a Saturday in the month of May every year.It is an exciting experience to see the effigies of the tigers filled with explosives running half a kilometre distance within one or two minutes in the middle of the village on a rope.BackgroundAccording to the available information, such a ritual is not found any where in Karnataka.Khansaab Mulla, the priest of the Shekh Hazarat Jindavali Dargah, told the Express that centuries ago, saint Shekh Hazarat Jindavali arrived to Degaon on a tiger. As a gesture of saying thanks for fulfilling their desire, the devotees of Shekh Hazarat Jindavali make the effigy of tigers to run for about halfakilometre with the help of explosives on a rope.Saint Shekh Hazarat Jindavali has his devotees in both Hindu and Muslim communities.The entire village celebrates the Jatra by participating in the 'Huli Ota' (Tiger's run) and they prepare feast in their houses.A decade ago, the villagers used to celebrate the Jatra for ten days by organising a number of religious and cultural events. Now it has been reduced to three days.Three day eventOn the first day, the devotees worship 120 steps of the Dargah by breaking coconuts on each step and by pasting sacred vermilion and turmeric. On the second day , different religious rituals take place at the Dargah.On the third and last day which falls on Saturday, the effigies of tigers will be taken to the temple of Jai Bajarang Bali [Hanuman temple] where they will be made to bow before God Bajarang Bali and later they will taken to the Dargah of Shekh Hazarat Jindavali.People who have taken vows pay their respects to the saint along with these effigies.The persons having knowledge of performing 'Huli Ota' will bring the effigies one by one to a spot generally an open ground. There, the effigies of the tigers will be made to stand on a rope of halfakilometre length and people will ignite the explosives.Within two minutes, an effigy will run fast on the rope and collide with an iron rod and make it bend. If the tiger runs correctly, the devotee who vowed feels that his vow has reached to the saint.Priest Khansab Mulla says that even the devotees of other places will take vows in the name of the Baba."After the fulfillment of their desires, they come to this place during the fair and as a gesture of thanksgiving, they make the effigy of the tiger to run with the help of an explosive. Later, they take the effigy to their home as a mark of symbol of the vehicle of God," he explains.During this year's fair, six devotees (Sayabanna Kinagi, Siddu Havanji, Gurulingappa Havanji, Shekhar Biradar, Munnappa Rangoji and Gundappa Pujari) completed their vows. After completion of the tiger show, the villagers will sing Gigi Padas (folk songs) and organise wrestling a competition to mark the occasion.
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