Mulky: One allegation that the older generation would always hurl at the youngsters is that the latter are drifting away from the culture. But, if someone is to meet Manoj Salian from Mulky this complaint will fade away for sure.
This 29-year-old pilot with the Auric Air in East South Africa is the humble son of soil, who returns to his native village during the summer seasons with a specific aim. Come summer and the fragrance of ‘Bhootha-Kola’ (demi-god worship) engulfs the region and as a faithful, Manoj plays a vital role in it at the Kanthabare Boodabare Garadi Gudde Jumadi Daivasthana in Mulky.
Keeping aside his ‘high profile’, Manoj gets on to wearing the colourful attire and with the fall of dusk he takes on the role of an impersonator of the ‘Bootha’. After being possessed by the demi-Gods, he becomes a medium for the people to talk to the Gods.
After living his early days like any youth of his age, it was in 2003 that Manoj involved himself in the renovation and development work of the Daivasthana. Since then there has been no escaping from the responsibility that came on him. In 2004, he started carrying the mask of Yelathur-Majalaguthu Jarandaya Daiva. In 2008, he went to Dehradun to pursue pilot studies and in 2010 he became a licensed pilot. He got posted in East Africa. But, the calling of the divine has been so strong that, every year, Manoj is here in Mulky to do what he is supposed to do.
Accordingly, on March 19, Manoj was at the Daivasthana to assay the role of a ‘Daivapaathri’ or the impersonator. Last year, he had initiated the process to become an impersonator and took on the role from senior Daivapaathri Yadava Poojary voluntarily.
Manoj has very little to say about the role that he plays. He says that the experience of being possessed cannot be explained in words.
“It is as if an invisible power is taking you into its control. The rest is just not sensed,” says Manoj adding that personally he is a strong believer of the Daivas specifically because of some experiences that he has had as a pilot.
“There were instances, I believe, where I as a pilot was saved by my Daivas. The demi-gods and their powers, both exist and the one who believes in them will understand the truth behind this,” says Manoj, who will be in Mulky for a few more days and return back to Africa after completing his role as Daivapaathri.
Manoj had completed his early studies in Shree Narayana guru English Medium School and Vijaya College in Mulky.
