Kandali: A Festival Of Bhotia Community - कंडली: भोटिया जाति का प्रमुख त्यौहार

[swati lohumi paathak]

In the Chaudans region of Pithoragarh district, a flower - Kandali (Strobilenthes wallichii) - blooms once every 12 years (last in 1999) and the people celebrate Kandali festival between the months of August and October. The Chaundas Valley is remote in the Dharchula tehsil of Pithoragarh. It lies between the Kali and the Dhauli rivers. In the week long festival the local people - Shaukas or the Rangs participate with gaiety and enthusiasm in different villages of the region. Some stories are associate with this festival, which express the martial tradition of the Shaukas. In the first story, it is said that by tasting the poisonous flower of the Kandali the only son of a widow died. In the second story, this flower the symbol of famine and poverty. According to the third and most popul< story, the region was once attacked while the menfolk were away for trade. Th brave women repelled the enemy, who hid in the Kandali bushes, and the attacked the bushes and destroyed the enemy. The festival commemorates thei bravery and the women therefore destroy the plant ceremonially to remind th local people of the incident and to prevent further mishaps.

[swati lohumi paathak]

The festival begins with the worship of a Shiva Linga made of barley and buck wheat flour mixture. Local liquor is traditionally used during this festival. Every household performs it in a decorated comer of the courtyard. People pray for prosperity. The individual pujas are followed by a community feast. Then, the women and men, in their traditional dresses and laden with gold and silver ornaments, assemble around a tree on the sacred ground of the village. Strips of white cloth are tied to the tree and a flag is raised.

[swati lohumi paathak]

A procession is formed behind the flag. The women lead the procession, each armed with a ril (an implement used in compacting carpet on the loom) followed by children and men armed with swords and shields. As they sing and dance their music echoes in the valley. On approaching the blooms, war like tunes are played and war cries uttered and the women attack the bushes with their rils. The menfolk then come to their aid, and the bushes are hacked with swords. They uproot the bushes and take them back as the spoils of the war. Victory cries are raised and rice grains are again cast towards the sky to honour the deities with the prayer that the people of Chaundas Valley may be ever victorious over enemies. Festivity, dancing and music continue throughout the night.

[swati lohumi paathak]

The enthusiasm and emotion have to be seen to be believed. All the members of the community, even those living elsewhere, return to their village for the event, on the return of the procession to the village an assembly known as the 'Savdhoomo-sabha' is held at which sweetmeats, liquor and fruits are consumed, the deities are again worshipped with flowers. Festivity, dancing and music continue throughout the night.

[kp.mishra]

KANDALI: Festival Photo

[kp.mishra]

KANDALI:

[kp.mishra]

Lady in traditional dress

[एम.एस. मेहता /M S Mehta 9910532720]

Some more information.

Kandali Festival

Kandali Festival is a festival held by the Bhotiya tribe of the Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand state in India. This festival coincides with the blooming of the Kandali plant, which flowers once every twelve years. It is held in the Chaudas Valley between August and October. It celebrates the defeat of Zorawar Singh's army, which attacked this area from Ladakh in


The Ritual

The women go out in procession in their traditional attire to destroy the Kandali plants, where the soldiers were hidden. The demoralised army returned along the Kali River, looting the villages on the way. The women resisted them and this is re-enacted to this day. The festival includes dancing, feasting and partaking in the local brew 'Chakti'. Kandali last bloomed in 1999 and next festival will be held in 2011.


taken from : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kandali_Festival

[पंकज सिंह महर]

एक अन्य पौराणिक कथा कंगदाली उत्सव से जुड़ी है, जो शौका या रंग भोटिया लोगों द्वारा मनाया जाता है एवं जिनका धारचूला में सबसे बड़ा आवास है। कथा है कि अपने फोड़े पर एक बालक ने कंग-दाली झाड़ी की जड़ों के लेप का इस्तेमाल किया और उसकी मृत्यु हो गयी। क्रोधित होकर उसकी मां ने जड़ी को शापित किया तथा शौका-महिलाओं को आदेश दिया कि वे कंग-दाली पौधे की जड़ों को उखाड़ फेंकें, जब वह पूर्ण-रूप से पल्लवित हो, जो 12 वर्षों में एक बार होता है।

[पंकज सिंह महर]

कांगदाली उत्सव के पीछे एक बालक की किंवदन्ती है कि उसने अपने फोड़े पर कांगदाली जड़ी की जड़ का लेप लगाया और वह मर गया। क्रोधित होकर उसकी विधवा मां ने जड़ी को शापित कर दिया तथा रंग महिलाओं को आदेश दिया कि वे कांगदाली पौधे की जड़ को उखाड़ फेंके जब वह पूर्ण रूप से खिला हो, जो 12 वर्ष में एक बार होता है। दूसरी कथानुसार कांगदाली उत्सव उन महिलाओं की याद में मनाया जाता है जिन्होंने वर्ष 1841 में लद्दाख से आक्रमण होने पर जोरावर की सेना को पीछे ढकेल दिया था। उन महिलाओं ने उन कांगदाली झाड़ियों का समूल नाश कर दिया जिसके पीछे शत्रु छिपे थे, जो पीछे हट गये।

उत्सव का आरंभ जौ एवं मोथी के आटे से बने एक शिवलिंग की पूजा से होता है। प्रत्येक परिवार यह पूजा करता है जो अंत में एक समुदाय मोज में परिवर्तित हो जाता है। परंपरागत परिधानों में स्त्री-पुरुष प्रत्येक गांव के एक निर्धारित पेड़ के पास इकट्ठा होकर एक ध्वज फहराते हैं।

ध्वज वाहक के पीछे एक जुलुस बन जाता है जो कंगदाली पौधे की ओर बढ़ता है। महिलाएं इसका नेतृत्व करती हैं। प्रत्येक के हाथ में रील होता है, जो दरी बनाने का एक उपकरण होता हैं तथा इससे वे खिले पौधों पर जोरों से आक्रमण करती हैं। उनके पीछे ढाल-तलवारों से लैस बच्चे एवं पुरूष रहते हैं। विजय नृत्य तथा झाड़ी के उखड़ जाने के बाद उत्सव समाप्त होता है।

वर्ष 1999 में अंतिम बार कंगदाली खिला था और वह वर्ष 2011 में इसके फिर खिलने पर अगला उत्सव होगा।