Momaji

Published on 22nd January, 2017, in Mid-day. My friend told me of a ritual practice in some parts of rural Rajasthan. When the marriage party is passing a shrine of Momaji, people offer lamps (usually in a dry coconut), food (wheat) and other indulgences (beedi is common). Mamoji is represented as horse-riding heroes. The shrine, usually open air, under a tree mostly, comprises of many images of majestic warriors on horses. Not much is known about them. Stories are about heroes accompanying sisters or brides to their husband’s house, fighting demons and dacoits. It is clearly part of the folk religion of Rajasthan. Such horse-riding ..