cher-chera and awareness campaign
TRANSCRIPT
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.