Phase 1

Ganga Jal Procession

The festival formally commences with a journey to fetch water from the Godavari River. This is a ritual of purification and endurance. The destination is Hastina Madugu, a sacred pool believed to be where Nagoba quenched his thirst. A group of 80 to 100 Mesram elders and youth depart from Keslapur barefoot, carrying the sacred brass vessel 'Jhari' which is 1,400 years old.

Did you know?

This ritual is an integral part of the Mesram clan's heritage, preserved for centuries through oral tradition.