Makrai
| Author:Laxman Burdak, IFS (R) |
Makrai (मकड़ाई) is a village in Sirali tahsil of Harda district in Madhya Pradesh, India.[1] The village was the headquarters of the Makrai princely state during the British Raj. Makdai is the main area of the former monastic kingdom.
Variants
Location
It is located 24 km from Bhirangi Railway Station and about 37 Kms away from Harda Headquarters. Forested area is spread over the lower slopes of Satpura. An ancient fort is built on the hill situated in Makadi village. Its royal house is said to be the descendant of the Rajgond family. The palace of Raj Bhavan is special in itself in the fort of Makdai.[2]
Jat Gotras Namesake
- Makar (Jat clan) → Makrai State (Harda) was a princely state in India during the time of the British Raj. The seat was in Makrai.
Makdai River
Makrai stands on a hill near the Sayani River and is noted for its dense forests. One well-known location is Nagjhiri and Devjhiri, a small natural well in the bank of the river through which water flows throughout the year.
History
Makrai State
Makrai State was a princely state in India during the time of the British Raj. The seat was in Makrai.
In 1892 the state covered an area of 401 square kilometres forming an enclave surrounded by the British territory of the Nerbudda Division of the Central Provinces. Makrai State had a population of 16,784, which was reduced by famine to 13,025 by 1901. The state's rulers were of Rajput lineage and bore the title Maharaja. According to tradition the ruling family originally held the taluka of Kalibhit in Harda district.
According to legend Makrai princely state was established in 1663 century by Gond Raja Karkat Rai who hailed from a family that owned land in Harda tehsil. In the 18th century the Scindia and the Peshwa warriors took over the forested areas of Kalibhit and Charwa from Makrai. In December 1890 the British government took over Makrai State under the doctrine of lapse owing to bad administration. Power was restored to the native ruler in 1893 under the condition that he appoint a Diwan (Minister) duly approved by the British Head Commissioner.
Makrai State was under the administrative authority of the Central India Agency until 1933, when it was transferred to the Bhopal Agency subdivision of the Central India Agency in 1933 from the Central Provinces and Berar.
After Indian independence in 1947, the rulers of Makrai acceded to the Union of India on 1 February 1948. The principality was incorporated into the state of Madhya Pradesh, which in turn was created from the territories under the former Central Provinces and Berar.
As of 2012, the titular Maharaja of Makrai is Raja Ajay Shah, born on 21 January 1956, married on 20 May 1986 and crowned on 21 December 1987.
Culture
Makrai stands on a hill near the Sayani River and is noted for its dense forests. One well-known location is Nagjhiri and Devjhiri, a small natural well in the bank of the river through which water flows throughout the year. Other notable places include Mankameshwar Mahadev situated in a cave, Sule Baba Ki Tekri or the Hill Of Sule Baba is known for its tribal God and is the highest, coolest place in Makrai, the Bunred Palace (Mahal), Kaidi Ki Babdi, from where prisoners carry water from the river to the top of hill to supply the state. Here, Nathji used to worship the gods Bhilat Dev and Shiva.
There were two noted melas, where villagers and local tribes gathered to celebrate Shivratri' and the eve of Holi. Another well-known mela, the month-long Bhilat Dev is organised every year near Sirali in Malapur. Before the mela starts, the Nathji (Pandit) go barefoot and carry tippara (made from bamboo and used to keep the cloth of God) on their heads from Khudia (the new provincial Village) to the Tapti River Bank Betul district - a distance of about 200 kms, to wash their worshipping cloths then return the same way over a fixed period of seven days. In a tradition that has existed for hundreds of years, during the journey people from the villages wait for the tippara on a fixed day and thereafter organize a mela.