Arewadi

Biroba is a form of Hindu god Shiva. Biroba is the Kuldaivat of Dhanagars of Maharashtra State. There are many temples of Biroba in villages of Maharashtra. In Arewadi (Dist: Sangli),Katphal TAl :Sangola, Pattankodoli, there are temple of Lord Biroba. Lord Biroba is brother of Mayakka devi.

The village Aarewadi is famous for the temple of Biroba.Biroba, being the patron deity of the Dhangar caste,Aarewadi is primarily a Dhangar village. It is said that Biroba himself shepherded his sheep in the forests here, and ever since the Dhangars settled here to serve him. Since i am a Dhangar myself, I visit this place once a year since I was a kid, to pay my respects to our family deity.

Over the years I have observed that the pilgrims who come here and the locals, both are distinct from anything I have seen. One might say that their living is simple but there is something inherently special about them. They have preserved their way of life even today. Their faith towards their god and theway in which they worship is truly beautiful.

They arouse my curiosity. For my ethnography project, I could not have found a subject more interesting and closer to my heart than the Dhangars of Aarewadi.Through an ethnographic study of their lives, homes, attire etc.

Aarewadi is located in Kavthe mahakal taluka of the Sangli district in Maharashtra. The village consists of two parts viz The Biroba’s forest where the main temple is and the residential village about half a kilometre away. The village is full of Kolekar families belonging to Dhangar community. Many of them are involved in farming in the nearby areas. Some still herd sheep and other livestock. The houses are old and built of stone masonry.

There is a school and a gram panchayat too along with a few shops. The old people say that Shivaji himself handed the lordship of land (patil) to the Dhangar folk. Biroba himself being here, the Dhangars found more reasons to reside here. The god’s gathering happens twice a year, called a jatra, as Biroba is our family god I have attended jatra so many times. Dhangar folks from as far as Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka gather here thus making it a huge congregation.

Attire

The Dhangars of Aarewadi are slowly stepping into the modern world. However, they have striven to preserve their culture. They still lead a fairly primitive lifestyle.

. The old folks in Aarewadi still dress traditionally. The women especially dress and wear jewellery as in the olden days. All this has always fascinated me. To see such antique jewellery is a rarity in today’s world. Such way of life, now fast disappearing, is preserved with great affection in Aarewadi.

Male attire

As mentioned earlier, Aarewadi is progressing slowly but surely. Accordingly, the younger generation wears pants and shirts. The older males still wear a loin, ‘dhoti’, a loose cotton vest, ‘sudrah’, a huge turban, ‘mundasa’, a quilt on the shoulder and the Bhandara smeared across the forehead with Kolhapuri leather chappals, such is the quaint attire of a typical Dhangar.

Temples and Gods

The Dhangar community has always preferred staying close to their gods. Wherever they migrated they carried their gods with them. The Dhangars are Shaiv-panthik, followers of lord Shiva. They worship him in all forms. He is seen in the houses across Aarewadi in the form if idols.

The main reason for Aarewadi to exist is the Biroba temple, the Dhangars came here years ago to serve Biroba and continue to do so. They pray to him through their ‘Ovi’s. The Aarewadi Biroba temple houses two deities: Biroba and Suryoba, who are worshipped thrice a day. There are smaller temples dedicated to more Demi-gods in the environs.

The Biroba temple itself was much small, but the donations from the devotees have helped build a bigger edifice and beautify the surroundings. It is said that Biroba roamed the whole earth and finally found Aarewadi the place to settle down. He shepherded his flock here.

There are two temples dedicated to his wife Kamabai and his sister Mayakka, who took care of him as a child.The temple is the focus of Aarewadi’s social life. It is a place not only to serve the god but also to meet up, talk, and hence the temple is always crowded. Thrice a day, The Lord is worshipped amidst much fanfare and is taken about in a pious procession. May all be well in the nameBiroba, in the name of Mayakka, in the name of Kamabai, in such cries the whole area is drowned. The holy turmeric powder called the Bhandara is smeared on The Lord’s idol with much reverence and the same is then smeared across the head by the devotees. Aarewadi is a place where the Dhangars from across India congregate. They meet up twice a year to serve the god with unmatched fervour. They sing his praise through the ‘ovi’s and perform the Gaj dance.

Structure of Homes Arewadi

The houses in Aarewadi are built with stone and mortar. For the roof, mud, grass and Chuna is mixed to make a sturdy ceiling that hardens over the passage of time. It helps keep the house cool. The Osari is the front part of the house which has a seating place and a small kitchen in the corner.

A huge water pot called Raanjan is kept in one corner. A small place is reserved in the front open space for taking bath. There is a Tulsi Vrindavan nearby. Inside the house are three-four more rooms, one of which is devoted entirely to god. Despite the presence if cement concrete in newer houses, most of the houses are still built in the traditional style.