COMMON
CUSTOMS
The Thoda and The Buhana
The Thoda custom which probably originated in the Pauranic past, can be seen
in the village fairs in the tribal areas. This is a competition in archery in
the memory of the Pandavas. In this the interested parties form two teams, one
called Pashi and other Sathi. The players then shoot arrows at spots marked near
the feet. If the arrow hits the target the player jumps up and names one of the
five pandava brothers.
The Buhana custom is a beautiful example of community feelings within the
farming communities. In some area this is also known as Hela or Jwari. The
planting of seedlings, weeding, hoeing and harvesting are all community
activities here, and are performed co-operatively. This custom is beneficial to
the smaller and poorer farmers whose necessary chores are thus completed on time
without expense. While the tasks are being performed by the entire community for
one of their brethren, a drummer stands at a raised spot and beats his drum
rhythmically to which all keep time as they go about their work. At the end of
the day's work all the workers are fed on Bhatedus (thick round bread made of
whole wheat flour) and other delicacies. The women also work with the men and
sing to the beat of the drum.
The Thatha
This is a custom prevalent in the Kinnaur region and is designed to ward off
the evil spirits and ghosts. Even the poorest families celebrate it once in
every three or four years. In this, one hundred and eight clay lamps are lit,
which symbolically dispel the darkness for the coming period. Then the Lama
comes and performs a special puja in the house to the gods known as Vikyu.
The Bhoonda
The custom was largely prevalent in Mahasu and Kulu regions and seems to have
its earliest roots in human sacrifice performed every twelve years. The last
Bhoonda (at Vibhai in the Sutlej valley) is said to have been performed in the
following manner
A man belonging to the Beda community was chosen for the ceremony, a few days
prior to it. For three months he was housed in the village temple with great
respect. During this period, he wove a rope with grass-measuring some four to
five hundred Hath (a Hath is the length between the elbow and the tip of the
middle finger of a mature human arm). On the fixed day a procession of the gods
was brought out ceremoniously. The Beda led this procession holding aloft an
umbrella made of blue cloth, and supported on each side by his two wives. He
wore only one article of clothing and a red thread around his neck. As the
precession reached the spot where the Bhoonda was to be performed one end of the
grass rope was tied to the pillar on the top of the hill and the other to
another pillar, at the bottom of the same hill. The procession then took the
Beda into the temple and sacrifices a goat. In the temple the Beda was offered
to the gods and then the procession returned to the spot where the Bhoonda was to
be performed. Here on the top of the hill a woolen seat was laid on the rope
with bags of sand suspended on both sides to keep it balanced. The Bhoonda was
seated on that and at a signal from the priest he was pushed down hill. The seat
flew down with the Beda. His survival depended purely on chance. If the Beda
survives he is paid a sum of some 80/- to 90/- rupees from the temple fund. The
observers also give him money. The last Bhoonda took place in 1902 at a village
near Nirat. The custom is nearly obsolete now.
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