Urasgatta is a memorial pillar of the dead, erected mostly by the rich members of the Dandami Maria tribe belonging to
Madhya Pradesh. These pillars are made of teakwood or wood from the ‘gaja’ tree.
The Urasgatta is a solid wooden pole of 3 m height and 0.75 m thickness. The top of the pillar is dome shaped, adorned with carvings on all four sides. The pillars are erected and left without any maintenance or care. They are left to be gradually destroyed by the termites. This gradual deterioration of a pillar is believed to indicate the journey of the soul of the deceased towards heaven. Once the pillar is completely destroyed, the soul is believed to have finally reached heaven.
