Upholding a vibrant cultural tradition, hundreds of women from Sukhed and Bori villages near Lonand in Khandala taluka gathered on Wednesday afternoon to celebrate the age-old ‘Bori Bar’ ritual held annually on the second day of Nag Panchami, locally known as Shirluba.
This unique tradition, passed down for generations, involves women from both villages meeting on either side of the stream after noon, where they wave, clap, gesture, and exchange ritualistic verbal taunts and abuses as a symbolic show of rivalry. The women from Sukhed arrived first, accompanied by traditional instruments such as dafade, tasha, and horns, and began clapping and calling out toward the opposite bank. Soon, women from Bori appeared and responded in kind.
As the atmosphere grew more intense, the playful yet aggressive verbal exchanges between the groups of women continued for nearly an hour. The flow of water in the stream, increased by the release from the Dhom-Balkavadi dam, prevented the women from entering or crossing the water, but that didn’t dampen their spirit. Police personnel and local volunteers actively worked to ensure safety and prevent any escalation or mishap.
Though authorities eventually stopped the use of drums and loud instruments, the women continued their spirited clapping, shouting, and traditional verbal duels, rooted in local folklore and ritual rather than actual animosity. The symbolic confrontation ended after about 15 more minutes, but even while returning to their respective villages, women continued gesturing and shouting across the stream.
After the ‘bar’ concluded, the celebration continued with traditional games like Jhimma, Fugdi, and Pher Dharne, and local markets in Sukhed were lively with stalls selling festive goods, snacks, and sweets.
To maintain peace and safety, strict police security was deployed under the guidance of Lonand Police Station Sub-Inspector Sushil Bhosale, with assistance from staff of neighboring police stations.
The Bori Bar festival remains a powerful symbol of local tradition, blending playful rivalry with deep cultural roots, and continues to attract participation and curiosity from across the region.
