What is Hareli ??
Hareli is a regional public holiday in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh on the Sravana Amavasaya , the new month starting of a holy month .
It is an agricultural festival celebrated by the many rural farming communities the name of this festival comes from the Hindi word " Haryali" meaning greenery , which comes around this year of the monsoon .
Why is Hareli Celebrated ??
Hareli Festival is celebrated in the region of Kumaon in Uttarakhand it symbolizes new harvest and rainy season it also gives a message that " save environment " .
Traditions during the Hareli Festival :
During this festival people place branches of the Bhelwa tree in their respective fields they also put Neem branches on the entrance of their houses as Neem has medicinal properties that prevent diseases as well as insects .
This festival marks by playing " Gedi " a game where small children use bamboo sticks as stilts and walk around the fields .
During this time farmers in Chhattisgarh worship their farming equipment and cows the farmers pray for a good harvest and the basic theme of this festival is nature centric .
Hurling Coconut : it is one of the activities when the coconut is hurled up in the air to the greatest heights by the youth in the villages and the one who throws it at the greatest distance is the winner .
Gedi Dance : It is a kind of dance - form which is performed by climbing on bamboo sticks called Gedi . A footrest made at a certain height of the stick to climb by the performers . It gives a picture square view of the performers when they walk and dance climbing up to 6 to 7 feet of bamboo it is said to be 2000 years old .
Wishing all the farmers a productive and good harvest may all their prayers come true .
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