Sela- Vandanwar of paddy ears(Chhattisgarh culture)

The tradition of applying Vandanvar on the door frame of the house is centuries old in India.

Almost all over the country, during major festivals such as Navratri, Diwali, and Gudi Padwa.

So, it is customary to place a ‘Vandanwar’ at the entrance of houses.

To welcome the Gods and Goddesses on these auspicious occasions, flowers and mango leaves are offered.

Mango leaves are also used to greet people.

During Diwali, mango leaves are often used for worship.

In Bastar, after harvesting paddy, there is a custom of making vandanvar from paddy ears.

People who worship paddy are called Sela here.

After harvesting the paddy, the ears are dried and kept.

The stems of these ears are then braided together and given the shape of a long strap with a width of five fingers and the size of a door frame.

The craftsmanship of weaving the vandanvar is so intricate that it seems like Sonaro (a skilled goldsmith) has learned to make a neck chain from it.

Sela- Vandanwar of paddy ears(Chhattisgarh culture)

The bottom part of this strip is braided to resemble Apsara’s long braid, with Paddy’s ears hanging below it.

The paddy grains hanging in the cella shine with the sun’s rays, resembling a golden necklace hung on the door frame.

Sella is considered the most beautiful among the types of vandanwar, and it is believed that a gold-shining cella is the best way to worship the Gods and Goddesses in Chhattisgarh.

In Bastar, Cella is often seen enhancing the beauty of farmers’ houses and temples.

It brings positive vibes among the farmers as it connects with Mother Earth.

It is considered very auspicious to install it on the occasion of Lakshmi Jagar after the paddy harvest. The Sela Hinglajin temple presented here is from Girola.