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Minjar
Among the monsoon festivals one of the most colourful ones is Minjar. On this
day people cook special sweet and savoury delicacies and distribute them among
friends and relatives. The women-folk all decked up in their finery place these
in platters with Minjar (the ears of corn or flowers) and go singing to the
banks of the river and immerse them there. Most songs sung on this occasion
express the yearning of the married woman to go visit her father's house and her
sense of loss.
Rakhadumni
(Rakhi)
On the full moon day in the monsoon month of
Bhadrapad, Rakhadumni festival is
celebrated. The married sisters visit their father's house on this day and tie
the sacred rakhi around their brother's wrists. They are received warmly and
presented with gifts of money and clothes. The family priests also go to the
houses of their patrons (yajman) and tie rakhi on their wrists, thus blessing
them. Women who do not have a brother tie rakhi unto other fellow villagers and
thus make a new brother. The rakhi threads remain on the wrist for a whole month
and when the Sairi festival comes at the end of the month they are removed and
offered to Mother Sairi.
Gugnaumi
It is a festival in honour of
Googa, the lord of snakes. On this day large
feasts (Bhandara) are organized at all the temples of Googa (Googmadhi) in which
the food grains collected by the Guru (head priest) are used. The farmers also
come with offerings of food and pray for their well being. Pictures of snakes
are drawn on the walls with turmeric and people feed snakes with milk and
butter. Mentally sick women dance at the temples on this day, in order to get
rid of their sickness. It is said that the spirit of Googa descends upon them
and suggests ways of curing the ailment. Googa Saloh and Shibo-Da-than are two
major temples where fairs take place.
Losar
This festival marks the beginning of the new year in the areas bordering Tibet.
On this day people light lamps in front of the family deity Kimshu and meet all
their friends. No one may come out before midday. Early in the morning people
sing Darshid songs. A square lump known as Brang-Gyas is made out of mixed flour
and placed in a platter. The statues of deities and sweets are grouped around
this, along with figures of domestic animals. These must be in odd numbers. It
is considered auspicious to see this platter full of statues and figures early
in the morning.
Sairi
The first day of the month of Ashwin is celebrated as the festival of
Sairi.
This is a winter festival which comes when the maize crop is ready for
harvesting. The nomadic Goddess of Bharmor (Gadderan) celebrate this prior to
migrating downwards into the valleys of Chamba, Bhatiyat, Kangra and Mandi for
the winters. They treat it as a festival of farewells. At night they get drunk
and dance and sing.
Sweet Bhaterus are cooked in each house and Pakodus (dumplings made out of
ground Urd Dhal) are also cooked and served. The young men and women put Henna (seur)
on their palms and the soles of their feet. At night the village barber
decorates a large yellow lemon with kumkum and rice and arranges it in a basket
with coconut and flowers. This he carries around the village from door to door.
Each house-hold awaits the arrival of this basket and when it comes the carrier
along with the basket are received warmly and
flowers, sweets and money are placed in the basket as offering. This festival
symbolises the well being and prosperity of the entire community. New brides
visit their parents during this festival and those who cannot come for some
reason, sent gifts to the parents.
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