Report on Awareness campaign through Cher-Chera festivity/CCF/BSM/February/2008

A report

Awareness through traditional Cher-Chera festivity

Program profile Duration: 17th to 30th January 2008 Participants: 18 youth groups from 18 project villages Outreach: Approximately 4000 households Author of the Report: Jainith Rao Jonah

“Cher-chera”- A tradition

Poky little steps with curly wigs on the head, a soar throat offended the drums to

bustle in air, a painted face & the winking eyes beneath confirming a human behind, a

little girl staring from far, the masks were ready, some one put it on the face not to

disguise anyone but to wear a traditional colour of

festivity. So charming was the dressed boy for girl

that even the mirrors failed to recognize it was his

daily male companion. There the Cher-Chera

begins. The scene is normal in every village in

Bastar region a week after the traditional Diyari

festival to start with and concludes with the full

moon following after a week.

Diyari is celebrated usually in December last week or January. The festival signifies

the reverence of cattle, which the tribe in the region promptly does. The cattle (Cow &

buffaloes) wealth is offered worship, as a mark of tradition they are served with

porridge which is followed by traditional feast which usually finds a palatable cuisine

of goat’s & pig’s meat. The slaughtered animal’s meat part for each family is decided

prior and the animal is purchased as per the requirement of the share. Every

household and cow shed is whitewashed to celebrate the festival which is the most

important festival in their tradition & society.

“Cher-chera”- A new horizon

Cher-Chera was unique this year for the project villages, was also last year. The

project conceptualized design to provide a platform from the cher-chera to create

awareness in the community. It was discussed with the senior village people as there

was an apparent threat of disturbing the tradition flavor. Our assumption on that

Report on Awareness campaign through Cher-Chera festivity/CCF/BSM/February/2008

Objective of the Programme

◊ To use cher-chera as a sustainable means to create awareness generation in the community

◊ To use cher-chera as a means to mobilize youths

◊ Resurrecting the declining tradition of Cher-chera

ground went wrong and people were well convinced with the idea which was to

accommodate one awareness song along with the traditional song, sung in cher-chera.

Two representative youth participated in the song composition

training held at the project office. This year too the focus was on

Malaria awareness. It was a highly participatory session and the

youth enthusiastically composed song on malaria awareness.

Thereafter the youth groups were distributed items like Side

drum, Dafli, Manjira, Dholak, Sarees, Lungis, Bangles, Lipsticks,

fancy masks, talcum powder and other make up and dress

items.

All the groups were trained in

their villages by their

representative members who

participated in the song training.

The groups started the mission in

the second week of January –“A

Mission to fight Malaria”. Since

the groups were well equipped

with music items and cosmetic,

they draw more attention in the community. The groups reached to about 4000

household and approximately 20000 people.

“Cher-chera”- Bridging the gap

In Mundapara hamlet of kurandi village the youths have value added the picnic feast

by inviting all the community elders to join in the celebrations. It is a common

gathering where the youths give tribute to their elders by serving them dinner party.

Generally the entire festivity of cher-chera is concluded with the picnic by the

members of the cher-chera party, the picnic is facilitated by the offering in kind and

cash which they gathered from singing & dancing in front of households they

performed.

Report on Awareness campaign through Cher-Chera festivity/CCF/BSM/February/2008

When the youth from Badepara hamlet of kurandi village visited the nearby

Dongriguda hamlet, the dwellers gave them a warm hospitality for couple of

days. Badepara’s youth did not forget the warm reception; in reciprocation

they invited the elders of the Dongriguda community after they concluded

their Cher-chera singing. And after offering them a warm hospitality for couple

of days within their own dwellings they gave them a delightful farewell at the

outskirts of their village. National integrity was evidently apparent in this

incidence.

“Cher-chera”- Media reckon the initiative

Broader visibility of any initiative or intervention can add sustainability to its

impact. The media has recognized the

initiative and given it large space, this

could be hole where others organization

can look through for their campaign

against prevalent diseases and

problems. The project looks feasibility

to incorporate AIDS in the thematic

structure through Cher-Chera festivity.