Bhado Jatra: The Festival That Puts Deities on Trial, Marvel Style

Imagine living in a world where gods walk among mortals, wielding incredible power yet indifferent to your suffering. What would you do if the very beings meant to protect you ignored your cries for help? This is the existential question that lies at the heart of Marvel’s Thor: Love and Thunder with the tragic figure of Gorr the God Butcher, a man who turns against the gods after they fail to save him and his family. But what if I told you that this narrative of divine accountability is not confined to the realm of superhero films?

Deep in the tribal heartlands of Bastar, Chhattisgarh, the Bhado Jatra festival embodies a similar concept, where the gods themselves are put on trial, judged, and even punished for failing their people. While Marvel’s cosmic epic explores these themes through mythological deities and vengeful characters, the Bhado Jatra festival reflects a centuries-old tradition where the tribal communities demand that their gods answer for their negligence, especially in times of hardship.

In this article, we’ll dive into the surprising parallels between Gorr’s mission to destroy uncaring gods and the Bhado Jatra, where the divine is held accountable by those who worship them. Let’s explore how two seemingly unrelated stories—one from the vivid world of Marvel and the other from the ancient tribal customs of India—share a profound commentary on the relationship between humans and their gods.

When Gods Fail

Picture this: in a remote corner of India, far from the cosmic battles of the MCU, gods are not revered as untouchable beings but are instead put on trial by their very own worshippers. Welcome to the Bhado Jatra festival of Bastar, where local tribal communities turn the tables on the deities they once adored. Unlike most religious festivals that glorify gods, Bhado Jatra stands apart because it demands accountability from the divine.

Here, gods aren’t immune to judgment. If the village suffers—whether through natural disasters, failed crops, or hardship—these gods, embodied by idols, are called to account. Imagine summoning Thor or Zeus to answer for the destruction they’ve allowed! In Bastar, this is exactly what happens. The deities are interrogated for failing to protect the people, much like how you might question a hero for letting the villain win.

But it doesn’t stop there. If found "guilty," the gods are punished. Idols are removed from their sacred places, stripped of their status, and subjected to rituals that reflect the frustration of the community. It’s not about forsaking these gods but demanding they step up and fulfill their roles. This ritual aims to realign the balance between mortals and their deities, ensuring that the gods once again look after the people’s welfare.

Doesn’t that sound a bit like Gorr’s journey?

In Thor: Love and Thunder, Gorr, portrayed by Christian Bale, follows a similar path—but with much deadlier consequences. His once-deep faith is shattered when the god he prays to remains indifferent in the face of his suffering. This revelation sends him down a vengeful spiral, transforming him into the God Butcher, hell-bent on destroying the gods who failed their worshippers. While the villagers of Bastar seek to repair their relationship with the divine, Gorr wants nothing short of annihilation.

His rebellion isn’t just personal; it’s cosmic. Armed with the Necrosword, Gorr declares war on the gods, judging them all as unworthy and seeking to purge the universe of their existence. The villagers of Bastar may stop at punishing their gods, but for Gorr, it’s a total reckoning.

Two Tales of Accountbility and Justice of God’s Failure

Whether in the tribal heartlands of Bastar or across the vast cosmic expanse of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, one common theme emerges: when gods fail, they must be held accountable. In both the Bhado Jatra festival and Gorr’s vengeful crusade in Thor: Love and Thunder, we see the idea that gods are not untouchable or beyond reproach. They are expected to actively participate in the lives of their worshippers, offering protection, prosperity, and guidance. And when they fall short, the consequences are severe.

1. The Gods Owe You

In the Bhado Jatra festival, the gods are not revered as untouchable beings but as protectors of the community with duties and obligations. If crops fail, if disaster strikes, the people of Bastar hold their gods accountable, reflecting a belief that gods owe their followers active participation in daily life. This trial is more than symbolic; it represents a call for the gods to fulfill their divine obligations.

Similarly, Gorr’s story begins with a devout believer who suffers unspeakable loss. His belief that the gods should intervene in times of distress forms the core of his disillusionment. When they do nothing, Gorr’s faith is shattered, and his transformation into the God Butcher is fueled by the realization that gods are negligent and indifferent to mortal suffering. In both instances, divine responsibility is a key theme—gods are expected to care for those who worship them, and when they don’t, they face retribution.

2. The Price of Gods Pay for Their Failure

The Bhado Jatra festival’s trial of gods is rooted in restorative justice. The people aren’t necessarily trying to destroy their gods but to remind them of their roles as protectors. The punishment, often symbolic, is meant to restore balance—to realign the cosmic order and bring prosperity back to the land. The goal is to get the gods to listen and act, not to eliminate them.

On the other hand, Gorr’s quest for justice leads him down a path of destruction. For Gorr, there is no symbolic punishment—only complete eradication. Where the tribal villagers use their rituals as a means of reconciliation, Gorr sees vengeance as the only form of justice. His belief is that the gods, having failed humanity, do not deserve to exist. The stakes are higher in his world, and the retribution more absolute.

3. Faith and Disillusionment

In both stories, faith is initially strong but crumbles under the weight of unmet expectations. In Bastar, faith in the gods doesn’t completely vanish despite their failures. The Bhado Jatra festival expresses discontent, but it’s about restoring trust. The community hopes that by holding the gods accountable, their favor can be regained, and harmony restored. This faith is conditional but repairable.

For Gorr, however, disillusionment takes a darker turn. His belief is shattered beyond repair, driving him to conclude that all gods are inherently unworthy of worship. His journey from faithful believer to destroyer of gods highlights the idea that when faith turns into betrayal, it can lead to extreme measures. In his eyes, the very existence of gods is the problem, and the only solution is their complete annihilation.

4. The Relationship Between Mortals and Gods

In both the Bhado Jatra festival and Thor: Love and Thunder, the relationship between mortals and gods is portrayed as a two-way street. In Bastar’s tradition, the villagers offer worship and rituals, but in return, they expect protection, guidance, and prosperity. It’s an arrangement based on mutual benefit. When the gods fail to uphold their end of the deal, the people have every right to demand answers and take action.

For Gorr, this idea is central to his quest. He believes that if gods exist, their purpose should be to care for their worshippers. His anger stems from the feeling that the gods have broken this contract, abandoning their responsibilities while still receiving prayers and offerings. In both cases, the gods’ failure to maintain this reciprocal relationship leads to punishment, whether it’s through ritual trials or through Gorr’s vengeful wrath.

5. Gods as Flawed Beings and Not Beyond Judgment

The idea of flawed gods runs through both stories. In the Bhado Jatra festival, the gods are not seen as perfect or beyond judgment. They are capable of mistakes, and when they fail, the community holds them accountable. This humanization of the gods makes them more relatable but also more vulnerable to criticism.

In Marvel’s world, the gods are similarly flawed, but to a far greater degree. Gorr’s journey is about discovering that gods, despite their power, are often selfish, indifferent, or outright cruel. His experiences with gods lead him to believe that they don’t deserve their status, and his righteous fury turns into a mission to eliminate their presence from the universe. This narrative of gods as flawed beings who can be judged, and even punished, connects both the real-world traditions of Bastar and the fantasy universe of Marvel.

6. Do Gods Deserve to Be Worshipped After Their Failure?

Both the Bhado Jatra festival and Gorr’s arc in Thor: Love and Thunder raise a fundamental question: Do gods truly deserve the devotion of their followers? In Bhado Jatra, this question is answered through a process of trial and punishment—a way for the people to reaffirm their connection to the divine by reminding their gods of their duties. The gods are given a second chance to prove their worthiness.

Gorr, however, offers a much bleaker answer. In his eyes, no god is deserving of worship if they are capable of allowing suffering and death while doing nothing to intervene. His conclusion is that the universe would be better off without gods altogether. This stark contrast highlights the different ways in which mortals can react to divine failure—either through seeking reconciliation or through rejecting divinity entirely.

Is There Any Difference Between the Two Though?

The most striking difference between the Bhado Jatra festival and Gorr’s crusade is the ultimate goal each seeks. In Bastar’s tradition, the trial and punishment of the gods are designed to restore harmony—a way to remind the deities of their duties and realign the cosmic balance. It’s a ritual of reconciliation, where the hope is that the gods will repent, mend their ways, and once again fulfill their protective roles. The relationship, though strained, is meant to continue and grow stronger.

Gorr’s mission, on the other hand, is fueled by a darker, more absolute purpose. For him, there’s no room for restoration. He views the gods as irredeemable beings who don’t deserve a second chance. Gorr’s vengeance isn’t about repairing the bond between mortals and gods—it’s about obliterating it entirely. His goal is not to correct divine behavior but to wipe gods from existence, believing the universe would be better off without their flawed, indifferent influence. Where Bhado Jatra seeks to rebuild, Gorr seeks to destroy.

Conclusion

The Bhado Jatra festival of Bastar and the character of Gorr in Thor: Love and Thunder both offer profound commentaries on the relationship between humans and the divine. Both narratives challenge the idea of unquestionable faith and depict the gods as entities that can fail their followers, leading to a demand for accountability.

While the tribal villagers of Bastar seek to repair their bond with the divine, Gorr’s journey represents the ultimate severance of that bond. This contrast highlights two different ways humans can react when faced with the failure of their gods: through forgiveness and restoration or through rage and destruction. Both narratives remind us that even the divine can be called to account by those they are supposed to protect.