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Karwa Chauth
This is celebrated on the fourth day of the month of
Kartika. Married women eat
a festive breakfast consisting of Jalebis, milk and Fenis etc. This is known as
Sargi. After this they observe a fast till the fourth day's moon becomes visible
in the skies. During the fast they do not drink water. When the moon rises the
women offer Puja to it. They offer water to it sixteen times and pray for a long
life for their husband. A little painted clay pot (Auli) is filled with rice and
other things and offered to the mother-in-law. Some unmarried girls observe a
fast on this day so that they may get a good husband.
Khepa
The word Khepa means the Siddha (Tantrik Guru) made of flour. It is a festival
of chasing the demons which is celebrated in the Kinnaur region. On the day of
the festival people bathe early in the morning and then make a 'Laffi' with
turnips. Some other delicacies are also made with turnips and flour. On the roof
tops a thorny shrub (cho or Brek ling) is placed.
The other festival is known as Pulkhepa and is another form of Khepa
celebration. The head of a goat and special fried bread (Poltu) is cooked and
the ears of the goat are hung on the thorny shrub (Brekling) along with Poltu
and Sigre ( a turnip preparation, stuck with thorns all over). For two days
these are placed at cross roads and sometimes put indoors. Various traditional
delicacies are cooked and eaten and distributed among neighbours and friends. At
some places the horns of a goat are burnt to chase away the evil spirits.
Magha Naun
This festival is celebrated at the end of the month of Magha. This signifies the
return of the gods to the earth after their brief stay in the heavens. On this
day all the villagers gather at their local temple and through the priests the
deity tells the devotees what he has brought along from the heaven. People ask
the priest a lot of questions about the future and the welfare of their families
and crops. People rub butter upon the Lingam in the Shiva temples and if the
mice do not eat it up at night, it is taken to be a good omen and supposed to
herald a good harvest year.
Lohadi
At the end of the month of Pausha the Lohadi festival is celebrated in every
house. A month before this, the field workers go round from house to house
singing, Lohadi song known as 'Lohkadiyan'. The people welcome the singers and
give them gifts of food grains. On Lohadi night the boys sing Harin (the deer)
songs. A boy dresses up as a deer and prances about as his companions sing
songs. The singing and dancing lasts the whole night. At night a bonfire is built outside the house and
fed with jaggery,
sesame, rice and radishes. Sweet and savoury delicacies known as Babru are
cooked. The next day (Makar Sankranti day) the girls sing songs of blessings
known as 'Rajde'. People bathe and eat a meal of Khichadi (rice and pulses
cooked together). The married daughters are also invited for this ritual meal of
Khichadi and some of it is kept aside in the name of the forefathers. In some
areas young girls wear garlands made of dry fruits around their necks.
Faguli
This is the spring time
(Falgun) festival of the tribals. In Kinnaur this is
connected with Basant Panchami. On this day people shoot arrows at a portrait of
Ravana drawn on a paper. The houses are cleaned and the monsoon gods are
welcomed by name. There are many local stories about these ritual shooting of
arrows at Ravana's portrait. If an arrow hits home it is taken to be a sign of
the victory of gods over demons in the heaven. The blowing of conchshells is
forbidden because it might divert the attention of the gods engaged in a brave
battle against the demons up in the heavens. Early in the morning, members of a
certain family bring wood called Suskar Horing. This is burnt in the evening in
a cave. The roof of the cave is covered with lard (foo) and barley is roasted
below on the fire. If grains of barley jump up and cling to the roof of the
cave, it is taken as a sign of good luck. At the end of this the group of
villagers goes back to their village led by a man with Huri followed by the
Lankawalla who is followed by the Kittewalla carrying the 'Doo'. After three
rounds of the temple, people try to snatch the 'Doo' which they fed to their
animals. In some areas it is a festival of the Savani's and food is served to
them for seven days.
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