The religion in Kota portray the strong belief of the local indigenous inhabitants of the region in the traditional form of worship of the Supreme Being. The Kotas of Rajasthan follow a unique pattern of religious beliefs and customs. An integral part of the Hindu religion, the Kotas worship A- yno-r and Amno- r who are considered to personify the male God and female Goddess respectively.
The mundika- no-n is the chief priest who carries out the major rituals of the religious ceremonies and te- rka-ran, the other priest acts as a medium through whom the Divine Entity communicate with the common man. Accompanied with the traditional musical instruments of Kolvar, the senior male members of the group asks several questions to satisfy their quest about the uncertainities of future.
The Kota community adheres to a strict ritualistic traditional beliefs and encourages the active participation of women in various religious ceremonies. The wives of the priests occupy a pre-eminent position in the performance of several religious activities. The male priest is barred from performing any ceremonial events, once he loses his wife.
The main festival of the Kotas is Kamatra- ya which is celebrated with much enthusiasm and mirth all over the region. Pabm, Vei aytd ca-tram, Ye-r ca-tram are some of the other notable festivals of the Kota community which calls for celebration on a grand scale.
Sahariya
A prominent indigenous tribal community of the Kota district of Rajasthan, Sahariya mostly dwell in the forests and depend on hunting and fishing for their survival. Believed to have descended from the aborginal tribal group of the Bhils, Sahariya tribes also earn their livelihood from shifting agriculture.
The religion in Kota offers a deeper insight into the traditional and backward socio-cultural life of the numerous indigenous tribes of the region.
Last Updated on 07 December 2011
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