2024-09-05 07:59:35
Pandhurna: In Madhya Pradesh’s Pandhurna, despite the ban, an incident from the 17th century is being repeated even today. Despite heavy police presence and Section 144 being imposed, hundreds of people openly pelted stones throughout the day. This morning, the world famous Pandhurna fair was played once again on the Jam river of Pandhurna. People from both sides started pelting stones at each other on the big bridge between Pandhurna and Sawargaon. By 5 pm, more than 318 people were injured. Out of which 7 people are serious.
In fact, the tradition of the bloody game Gotmar, which has been going on for centuries, started once again on the second day of Pola festival. In this, people of two villages fiercely threw stones at each other. Many people were injured in this attack. Many people have been injured in this game so far. They were examined in the health camp organized there.
what is gotmar game
People of Pandhurna district, which was separated from Chhindwara, and Sawargaon pelt stones at each other. In the beginning of the month of September, people of both the villages gather here on the Jam river. After this, they first bow down at the feet of Maa Chandika. After this, they attack each other fiercely with stones. This game starts in the morning and continues till evening. Many people get injured in this. Many times people involved in Gotmar even die. Before the game of Gotmar, a flag is planted in the middle of the Jam river. When Gotmar ends, this flag is offered at the temple of Maa Chandika.
The Kavle family has been installing the flag for 4 generations
The flag in the form of Palaash tree has a lot of importance in the Gotmar fair. It is installed in the middle of the Jam river. The tradition of bringing this flag from the forest has been followed by the family of Suresh Kavle of Sawargaon for 4 generations. The flag in the form of Palaash tree is marked in the forest a year ago. It is brought to Suresh Kavle’s house a day before the Pola festival. On the day of Gotmar, early in the morning, that flag is installed in the Jam river. The flag in the form of Palaash tree is worshipped by all the players and the families living nearby in the Jam river, after which Gotmar is played by all the players.
10 people injured on Pola festival day
The Gotmar fair of Pandhurna started on Monday. About 10 people were injured here in the past few days. The seriously injured people were referred to Nagpur for treatment. Along with this, health camps have also been set up here for the treatment of the injured.
The fair began with worship
Three days ago, Collector Ajay Dev Sharma and SP Sundar Singh Kanesh held a public meeting. In this, they appealed to the people to celebrate the Gotmar fair in a symbolic and peaceful manner. Most of the people agreed to this in the meeting. However, by September 3, all these promises were broken. On Tuesday morning, hundreds of people started pelting stones at each other. Apart from this, thousands of people reached the Maa Chandika temple and the Palash Rupi flag and offered prayers.
A heavy police force was deployed
The Collector and SP have been camping with the administrative staff since morning. A team of 35 doctors is deployed at the Gotmar fair, who are treating the injured. Along with this, 650 police personnel have been deployed for security arrangements. The administration of 3 districts including the SP-Collector is present in Pandhurna. The health force of the district including 3 Additional SPs, 7 SDMs, 9 Tehsildars, 20 TIs, 10 SDOPs are present in this.
Stones were pelted on the spectators too
This time the Gotmar players did not even spare the spectators. The drunkards were pelting stones on the women watching the Gotmar fair from far away. At the same time, young men were seen slingshotting at many places.
Gotmaar Mela: Blood will flow, stones will rain… Bloody Gotmaar Mela in Pandhurna on 3rd September, 10 lives lost so far, know the whole story
Government’s campaign to stop Gotmar Teacher S. Jumde said that the Chhindwara administration made a lot of efforts to change the format of the fair. Under this, in the year 2001, the administration had laid plastic balls instead of stones on the Jam river. So that the practice of stone pelting could be stopped. But the players who used to play Gotmar started Gotmar by throwing plastic and rubber balls in the river and hitting them with stones.