Many of us grew up hearing stories of ghosts and spirits. We’ve heard of haunted locales and seen rituals intended to ward off evil entities. But have you ever encountered a tradition that venerates these spirits? In certain villages of Bastar, Chhattisgarh, notably in the Abujhmad region, spirits are not just feared, but also given a place to reside and are actively worshipped.
The tribal communities in Abujhmad offer homes to spirits and perform regular worship. They extend invitations to these spirits, seeking their blessings for family prosperity. This custom of accommodating spirits has been a part of Abujhmad villages for many years. The villagers do not observe Pitra Paksha, believing they house and honor their ancestors’ spirits within these spirit homes. Ancestral spirits are believed to reside in earthen pots (handis) and are the focus of rituals.
This practice is known as ‘Aana Kudma’ within the tribal community, literally translating to ‘house of the spirit.’ According to Devlal Dugga, the former Chairman of the Chhattisgarh State Scheduled Tribes Commission, the villagers hold a firm belief that their ancestors’ spirits dwell within, and are worshipped daily.
Notably, before any marriage ceremony in the village, the spirits are invited. The spirits then bestow their blessings upon the couple. Moreover, new harvests are not utilized until offerings are made to the spirits. Any accidental disregard of this tradition is believed to bring misfortune upon the village, necessitating apologies and corrective prayers.
Devlal Dugga explained that the tribal community places great faith in ‘Aana Kudma.’ Each village has a small room, much like a temple, where an earthen pot (handi) is kept. It’s believed that the ancestral spirits of the tribal community reside within this handi. Every home in these villages has a dedicated room for ancestors. Considering that the population of a particular clan is often significant in these villages, upon someone’s passing, their spirit is established in Aana Kudma by the clan members, and worship rituals commence.
Furthermore, these spirits are believed to safeguard the villagers from malevolent entities. Devlal Dugga emphasized the belief that the divine resides within the spirits themselves. The tribal community reveres their ancestors. Worship of these spirits, seeking blessings, is a common practice during special occasions like festivals and weddings. However, access to the spirit houses is restricted to men only. The entry of women or girls is strictly forbidden. Wedding ceremonies always commence after inviting the spirits.