Jabri festival happens once in 12 years, in Mahothobhara Mahalingeshwara Temple located at Nettanige village of Kasargod district, near Kasargod-Karnataka border.





The festival includes Bhootabali Utsava, Swayambhoo Guhapravesha and Athirudra Mahayaga ceremonies. Out of these, Bhootabali Utsava and Athirudra Mahayaga are conducted annually. The ritual Swayambhoo Guhapravesha is conducted only once in 12 years.





Jabri cave/ Swayambhoo cave

The main ritual happens in the Jabri/Swayambhoo (meaning, formed itself and not man-made) cave. The cave is situated in Bhanthaje forest area, located at the north side the of the temple and is considered as holy by the believers. Belief is that Kharasura, a strong believer of Lord Shiva, who placed one of the three Shiv Lingas he had in the Nettanige, came through this cave.





Kaapadans

The main rituals inside the cave are done by the the the priests and the Tanthri's and the preparation for the pooja is done by 2 selected members from the Mogeru community and are called as Kaapadans. The procedure to select the Kappans is called as Swarna Kavadi Prashnam.





Attending own death rites

The Kappadans, before entering the cave is supposed to experience all stages of life, such as birth, marriage, death. Hence, all death rites are conducted for the Kaapadans and they are considered dead post the rites.





After these rituals, Kapaadans are kept in an isolated place, a hilltop near the temple. The Kaapdans stay in a hut in the isolated place, spend the day by offering prayers and sleep barely on coconut leaves. Temple food is provided to them by a designated person and when the food is provided, they avoid eye contact.





The final day, Guhapravesham

After 48 days, the Kapapdans come out of the hut, and lead the priests and believers to the cave, wearing fresh white cloth and holding a wooden torch. Once they enter the caves, they prepare the cave ready for the rituals for the main priest. They spend around 1.5 hrs inside the cave and when they come out, they are considered to have had a rebirth.





Whatever they bring from the cave (such as snakeskin or remains of any animal) is considered as sacred and is buried near the temple.





Once the Kaapadans come out, the main Preist and tantri enter the cave and conducts the main rituals. Post the rituals, they bring soil from the cave and is distributed as Prasad to the believers. The believers keep this soil at their home.





As per belief, the ceremonies and what happens inside the cave should not be disclosed to the outside world and hence remain unknown.





Life of the Kaapadans after Jabri festival

The Kaapadans after the rebirth are not allowed to do major works and basic expenditure to live are provided by the temple board. They also should not spend time when the women in their house are menstruating and need to spend time in the temple during those times.





A caste-ical take on the festival

It needs to be noted the Kaapadans are selected from the Scheduled community and they are the ones who are going through this unique rituals. In fact, they risk their lives and makes the cave ready for the main Brahmin priests to do the pooja. Also, if something happens to Kaapdans, those are believed to be as a result of their violation of any rules that they were supposed to follow during the 48 days fasting. Same applies after the 'rebirth' too.





Filtering the traditions?

Since the importance of upholding of traditions are the new trend, it needs to be discussed whether value needs to be given for tradition or for a life! So are filtering out the traditions the solution?





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