Maghi Purnima observed by Dimasa Tribals in Assam

Puja, a Dimasa tribal girl, taking a holy dip and worshipping water godess along with her family at Panimoor falls in their traditional tribal rituals and customs during “Maghi Purnima” celebration in North Cachar Hills of Assam on Saturday,30th January 2010. Panimoor, of N C Hills is popularly known as “Kapili Tirtha”.

According to Hindu mythological believe, it is one of fifty one (51) holy places of India, where some pieces of body of goddess ‘Sati’ (Parbati) fallen and later converted to a religious place. The Dimasa tribals of North Cachar Hills of Assam observe the day, as their one of the greatest religious festival to worship the Mother Nature.

Due to long term gun battle between the local militants and the Indian security forces, this remote,communication unfriendly (Till date) place was avoided and abandoned by religious tourists. As the peace process has been started in 2009, people, though in less numbers, came to worship at Panimoor on the day of Maghi Purnima today, in North Cachar Hills district of Assam in northeast India.

Photo: SUBHAMOY BHATTACHARAJEE