Keeping tradition of worshipping Sanjhi Mata alive

A section of suburban localities in this part of Malwa have been trying to keep the tradition of worshipping Sanjhi Mata alive. Sanjhi Mata is considered a deity of prosperity and peace in the Hindu religion.

Besides having genesis in the religious beliefs of Hindu communities of northern states, including Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, the tradition was also known for promoting art, astronomy and knowledge about relationships in patriarchal society.

While most families blessed to have elder women in the clan continue to make images of Sanjhi Mata, besides animate and inanimate objects with mud, others prefer to purchase readymade idols from the market.

Madhuri Gautam, a resident here who has been installing Sanjhi at her home for over four decades, said people had begun to undermine the importance of following traditions in the name of ‘modernity’.

She said, “Leave alone the religious belief; the tradition of preparing clay models of various parts of Sanjhi, cosmic bodies and items of daily use enhances craftsmanship, creativity and knowledge about various parts of the universe,” said Madhuri Gautam. She appreciated her children and grandchildren have been interested in continuing the tradition.

She said the image of Sanjhi is designed on the first day of the nine days of Durga Puja, or Navratri, and installed on a wall. Cow dung is used as a base, and coloured cotton and paper are used to decorate the system.

Madhuri Gautam said Every evening, women and children are invited to sing bhajans and perform Aarti. She added Sanjhi was considered ‘Dhan Vaibhav Dayatri’ as she showers blessings on family to be prosperous. The elderly people believe that in this tradition, young girls offer prayers to the deity to seek blessings so that they get suitable husbands.

Rekha Kumra, a retired teacher, said people have now started worshipping Sanjhi Mata through the medium of calendars and posters. “The gesture of gathering neighbours and distributing sweets as parsad helps perpetuate the tradition,” said Kumra.

She said the festival concludes with the immersion of various components in a nearby body of water on the morning of Dussehra.