Hareli festival in Bastar Chhattisgarh

This is celebrated by all the farmers of Chhattisgarh, including farmers of bastar area, in the month of Shravan.

The farmers worship their agricultural equipments and cows. This is delivered from the Hindi word Haryali.

They place branches and trees of the Bhelwa tree in their fields and pray for a good crop.

They also hang neem branches at the main entrance of their homes to keep seasonal disease at bay.

For the next 15 days, Baigas (the traditional medical practitioners), teach their disciples. This goes on till Panchami, the day following Ganesh Chaturthi. On this day, they take examination/test from their disciples. If, satisfied with their performance, licences are granted to them to practise medicine.

Children of the region play Gedi(walking on the bamboo) as well as they take part in Gedi race, in this festival.

This is actually a festival of harvest, focusing on the monsoon of the year.

The Goddess Kutki Dai is the presiding deity, who is worshipped during the festival of good crops.

The festival is of special importance among Gond tribes.

The theme is mainly nature.