Marbat festival 2025: Nagpur burns effigies to ward off evil | 143-year-old tradition explained
Edited By WION Video Desk
Published: Aug 23, 2025, 22:14 IST | Updated: Aug 23, 2025, 22:14 IST
Every August, the streets of Nagpur, Maharashtra, come alive with color, chants, and massive effigies during the 143-year-old Marbat Festival. This unique celebration aims to banish evil, disease, and negativity from the community.
Observed the day after Pola, the bull-worship festival, Marbat involves carrying giant effigies—known as Kali (black) Marbat and Pili (yellow) Marbat—through Nagpur's old city, ending in a symbolic burning that locals believe cleanses their lives of misfortune.
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