Author Topic: Articles By Shri D.N. Barola - श्री डी एन बड़ोला जी के लेख  (Read 150959 times)

एम.एस. मेहता /M S Mehta 9910532720

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Sir, धन्यवाद,

यह प्रथा अभी चली आ रही है ! मस्चुन्गाई पूरी दंग से एक दूत का काम करता है! मस्चुन्गाई का लड़की वालो के घर पहुचने के बाद की वहां विवाह की आगे की कार्यवाही होती है ! 


मस्चुन्गाई  ( वर पक्ष का दूत, वधू के द्वार )

पर्वतीय अंचल मैं जब वर वधू की शादी रचाई जाती है तो अनेक रश्में निभाई जाती है  मोबाइल व इन्टरनेट के युग मैं आज भी वधू के बाकायदा  आगमन की सूचना देने हेतु मस्चुन्गाई, मन्ग्च्बाई या मस्चोई को वधू पक्ष के घर भेजा जाता है.  मस्चुन्गाई कंधे मैं मॉस की दाल व चावल की थैली तथा  हाथों मैं दही की ठेकी लेकर वधू पक्ष के घर जाता है. उसे ससम्मान पिठ्याँ लगा व दक्षिणा देकर पठाया जाता है  दही की ठेकी पीले वस्त्र मैं लपेटकर व कच्ची हल्दी तथा एक मुट्ठा हरी साग (सब्जी) व दूब  के साथ भेजी जाती है. वधू पक्ष के लोग इस लगुनी शगुनी ठेकी का इन्तजार करते हैं तथा कौतुक वस पूछते है की मस्चुन्गाई दही की ठेकी लेकर आया कि नहीं मस्चुन्गाई दही की ठेकी को वर पक्ष द्वारा निर्मित मंडप मैं रख देता है.  इस प्रथा का मुख्य उद्देश्य वधू पक्ष को बरात के आगमन तथा बारातियों की संख्या आदि की सूचना देना होता है.  वधू पक्ष मस्चुन्गाई का स्वागत शंख  घंट बजाकर करता है तथा उसको जलपान एवं टीका पिठ्या लगाकर तथा समुचित दक्षिणा देकर सम्मानित करता है.
मस्चुन्गाई से सूचना प्राप्त होते ही वधू पक्ष मैं चहल पहल शुरू हो जाती है तथा वधू के माता पिता दुल्हे व बरात के स्वागत एवं धूलि  अर्घ के लिये  तैयार हो जाते हैं.
  पुराने जमाने मैं जब यातायात अवं टेलीफोन आदि के साधन नहीं थे मस्चुन्गाई एक दिन पहले ही वधू पक्ष के घर जाकर वधू पक्ष को वर पक्ष द्वारा  तैयारी, बारातियों की संख्या व बरात आने का समय आदि की पूर्ण जानकारी दिया करता था तथा दूसरे दिन बरात आने से पूर्व  कुछ दूर पहले बरात मैं शामिल होकर वधू पक्ष की तयारियोँ की पूर्व  सूचना एक भेदुवे (सी आइ डी) की तरह देता था.

वर पक्ष के दूत को मस्चुन्गाई क्यों कहा जाता है ? इसका  कारण यह हो सकता है की वर पक्ष एक थैली मैं मॉस की दाल व चावल भी भेजता है. पहले थैली मैं मॉस की दाल रखी जाती है, फिर र्थैली मैं एक गाँठ मारी जाती है . इस गाँठ के बाद थैली मैं चावल भर दिया जाता है. फ़िर इसे गाँठ पाड़कर  बंद कर दिया जाता है.  इस थैली को कंधे मैं सहूलियत से रख व हाथ मैं दही की ठेकी लेकर मस्चुन्गाई वधू पक्ष के घर जाता है. थैली  मैं मॉस व चावल रखे जाने के कारण ही  इसे मॉस चावल का अपभ्रन्स मस्चुन्गाई कहा जाता है. इस प्रकार मस्चुन्गाई प्रथा आज भी बदस्तूर जारी है.  (D.N.Barola)

D.N.Barola / डी एन बड़ोला

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Jhula Devi Temple, Ranikhet


 
Jhula-Devi Temple at Ranikhet  is a temple of goddess Durga. It is situated on Ranikhet Chaubatia Road just 7 Kms. from Ranikhet. It is 8th century old temple and it is believed that if a person asks for something he gets it and on fulfillment of his desire ties a bell in the temple. It is said that about 700 years ago, Chaubatia was a dense forest inhabited by wild animals. Leopards and Tigers used to roam freely and the livestock of the local residents were an easy prey for the forest animals. People felt scared and prayed to Maa Durga for protection. Maa appeared in a Shepherd’s dream and asked him to dig up a particular place where she would come as Avtar (incarnation). The villagers faithfully followed the instructions and the idol of Maa Durga was found. Villagers constructed a temple on that particular site and according to the legend posted outside the temple, ‘despite the presence of leopards and the occasional tiger in this area, villagers and their cattle roam freely inside the forest. Thus the People were freed from the horror of forest animals’. People still believe that Tigers still comes to have a glimpse of Maa at mid-night.
About this temple there is yet another story.  It is said that once upon a time there used to be a King in Faldakot in which area the temple area falls. It was a very small State. Hence, there was very little land available for cultivation in this small State. The main source of earning of the people was to tame the domestic animals, like cow etc. and earn their livelihood.  With the times, due to some unforeseen calamities, the cows began to die. They started becoming easy prey to the forest animals like Leopards and Tigers etc.  The villagers prayed to their Deity to save them from this disaster.  Maa Jhula Devi appeared in the dream of a villager and asked him to dig at a particular place. The villagers dig that place and found the idol of Maa Jhula Devi. The idol was ceremoniously established and since then things became normal and the villagers prayed and lived happily thereafter.

 

Children used to play swing merrily on the Jhula. One day Maa again appear in someone’s dream and asked for a swing for her. The devotees constructed a swing for the Maa and the same was kept inside the temple sanctorum and Maa was ceremoniously seated on the Swing. The present temple was constructed in 1935. 
What makes the place more fascinating are the sheer numbers of bells in, around and over it. The bells are testimony to the "divine and healing powers of Maa Jhula Devi", which means your wishes can come true if you tie a bell at the temple. So many bells have now been strung up and clumped together that they’ve started piling up in one corner of the temple in what looked like, well, a junk heap of bells. Countless bells hung in the temple campus speak of the divine powers of the MAA.

Very close to Jhula Devi is Ram Mandir, where devotees throng throughout the year.(D.N.Barola)

एम.एस. मेहता /M S Mehta 9910532720

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सर,

धन्यवाद.

झूला देवी मन्दिर रानीखेत के काफ़ी उचाई वाले स्थल पर है ! जैसे की आपने लिखा है इस मन्दिर मे घंटिया बहुत है और एक मान्यता यह भी है लोग अपनी मुरादे पूरी होने पर यहाँ पर घंटिया चडाते है !

इस मन्दिर के कुछ ही दूरी पर राम चंद्र भगवान् का मन्दिर है.


Jhula Devi Temple, Ranikhet


 
Jhula-Devi Temple at Ranikhet  is a temple of goddess Durga. It is situated on Ranikhet Chaubatia Road just 7 Kms. from Ranikhet. It is 8th century old temple and it is believed that if a person asks for something he gets it and on fulfillment of his desire ties a bell in the temple. It is said that about 700 years ago, Chaubatia was a dense forest inhabited by wild animals. Leopards and Tigers used to roam freely and the livestock of the local residents were an easy prey for the forest animals. People felt scared and prayed to Maa Durga for protection. Maa appeared in a Shepherd’s dream and asked him to dig up a particular place where she would come as Avtar (incarnation). The villagers faithfully followed the instructions and the idol of Maa Durga was found. Villagers constructed a temple on that particular site and according to the legend posted outside the temple, ‘despite the presence of leopards and the occasional tiger in this area, villagers and their cattle roam freely inside the forest. Thus the People were freed from the horror of forest animals’. People still believe that Tigers still comes to have a glimpse of Maa at mid-night.

 

Children used to play swing merrily on the Jhula. One day Maa again appear in someone’s dream and asked for a swing for her. The devotees constructed a swing for the Maa and the same was kept inside the temple sanctorum and Maa was ceremoniously seated on the Swing. The present temple was constructed in 1935. 
What makes the place more fascinating are the sheer numbers of bells in, around and over it. The bells are testimony to the "divine and healing powers of Maa Jhula Devi", which means your wishes can come true if you tie a bell at the temple. So many bells have now been strung up and clumped together that they’ve started piling up in one corner of the temple in what looked like, well, a junk heap of bells. Countless bells hung in the temple campus speak of the divine powers of the MAA.(D.N.Barola)


D.N.Barola / डी एन बड़ोला

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‘Chandralok’ (Chaubatia) may be developed as a new tourist attraction centre



 A new tourist attraction can be developed at Chaubatia.  Just 9 Kms. away from Ranikhet is situated a flat ground measuring roughly 8-9 Nalis. In order to reach this place, one has to go to Jhula Devi from where he can go to Jhula Devi-Kunalakhet road. Nearly 3 Kms. from Jhula Devi, the Chaubatia road also meets on the Kunalakhet road. The place is situated at this tri-junction. The entire road is smooth. There is a flat ground at this place. If you walk down from this place, you will be pleased to see a sprawling landscape of the hills and valleys. You can enjoy the bird eye view of the systematically rising hills and deep valleys from this place. The entire Kujgarh valley measuring at least 30 Kms. peaks is visible at one go from here. Tarikhet Block, Pilkholi. Almora and Naina Peak (China Peak) of Nainital and a number of villages on Ranikhet-Haldwani road are visible from here.  Just by the side is a large stone, which looks like a frog. We named it Frog Stone. If you go still down, you will find another large stone, resembling the foot of Pandava, Bhim.

 

Sunset from this place is marvelous. The place may be useful for Para-gliding. Some years back a team from Delhi had visited this place to find the feasibility of Para-gliding from this place. The result is not known. The land is partially owned by a private party, whereas bulk of the land is under forest Van Panchayat. Villagers say that the place is called Bhoot Bungalow probably because it is situated at a forlorn land. There used to be a Bungalow in this land. But now there is no trace of the Bungalow. Military people call the area Highest Point.



 A hut called Gandhi Bhawan is situated downwards. Tourists visiting this place have started calling this place ‘Chandralok’. Since the land is bereft of any vegetation, it should be possible for the Uttarakhand Tourist Department to develop it as a new tourist attraction centre.(D.N.Barola)


D.N.Barola / डी एन बड़ोला

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117 Cm long Radish grown in Gwar Estate, Ranikhet




117 cm. long Radish  has been grown by Rajendra Bhagat of Gwar Estate, Ranikhet. The Radish measures 69 Cm. without leaves and weighs 3 Kg. It has a girth of 18 cm. on the top and 28 cm. at the bottom. Gwar Estate is famous for vegetable cultivation. Bhagat is in vegetable business since 1996 and has a shop at Ranikhet.(D.N.Barola)


D.N.Barola / डी एन बड़ोला

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14th Anniversary Celebrations of Sri Sri 1008 Mahant Balwantgiri ji Maharaj, Naga Baba Swargpuri Pandavkholi from 7 December to 9 December.  Main function and Grand Bhandara on 8 December, 2008 at Pandavkholi (8,800 feet above sea level).

You may kindly know about PANDAVKHOLI by clicking the following link.

http://www.merapahad.com/forum/articles-by-esteemed-guests-of-uttarakhand/0-0-!-articles-of-mr-d-s-badola-(guest-column)/30/

 
You are cordially invited. Invitation Card cum programme is appended. -  D.N.Barola




एम.एस. मेहता /M S Mehta 9910532720

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sir,

Thanx for the invitation. I would request our members to attend funtion if possible. I have visited this place when i was in Ranikhet and memories of Pandakholi are still fresh in my mind. It is said that during the  exile Padava had spent time there and Bhim, one of the brother of Pandvas used to come to take rest there.

Sir. i had just return from my native place. i have collected some "Ghun Kafal" but could not take snap as my camera bettery was low and there was breakdown of electricty more than 24 hrs and next day i returned. Next time i will surly capture the photo of Ghun kafal.

14th Anniversary Celebrations of Sri Sri 1008 Mahant Balwantgiri ji Maharaj, Naga Baba Swargpuri Pandavkholi from 7 December to 9 December.  Main function and Grand Bhandara on 8 December, 2008 at Pandavkholi (8,800 feet above sea level).
 
You are cordially invited. Invitation Card cum programme is appended. -  D.N.Barola





D.N.Barola / डी एन बड़ोला

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 जुगाड़ (Jugar)
 
Late Prem Ballabh Joshi (Premi)

मानो या ना मानो भारतवर्ष एक जुगाड़ प्रधान देश है  जुगाड़ जीवन के हर छेत्र मैं काम आती है जुगाड़ केवल भारत मैं  ही होती है और देश इस मामले मैं फिसड्डी हैं  रानीखेत के श्री प्रेमी (प्रेम बल्लभ जोशी)  पेशे से मैकेनिक एक महान जुगाड़ी हस्थी थे एक बार उन्होंने हेलीकॉप्टर मैं जुगाड़ फिट कर डाली  रानीखेत के पुराने लोग जानते हैं की 1959 मैं भारत के रक्षा मंत्री कृष्ण मेनन सोमनाथ ग्राउंड मैं अपने हेलीकॉप्टर से उतरे थे  हेलीकॉप्टर का एक पुर्जा ख़राब हो गया  इस बीच दिल्ली  से पुर्जा मंगाया गया पर वह फिट  नहीं हो पाया  अतः प्रेमी जी को बुलाया गया  महान जुगाड़ी प्रेमी जी अपने चेले चपाटों सहित हेलीकॉप्टर ठीक करने हो लिए  उन्होंने कभी हेलीकॉप्टर नहीं देखा था पर एक जानकार  की तरह उन्होंने हेलीकॉप्टर का निरीक्षण किया भारी भीड़ के समक्ष प्रेमी जी ने चीड़ के पेड़ के बगेट से जरूरी पुर्जा बना डाला और हेलीकॉप्टर मैं फिट कर डाला  वहां पर उपस्थित इंजिनियर आश्चर्यचकित रह गए  पुर्जा हेलीकॉप्टर मैं फिट किया गया और हेलीकॉप्टर उड़ चला



 अधिकारियों ने प्रेमी जी को पारश्रमिक देना चाहा पर प्रेमी जी ने बताया की वह जुगाड़ जनहित मैं निःशुल्क करते हैं अतः उन्होंने  मजदूरी लेने से इनकार कर दिया. अधिकारियों ने उन्हें शाम को हम प्याला हम  निवाला पार्टी का ऑफर दिया वह पार्टी  मैं चेलों सहित शामिल हुवे जुगाड़ का एक अभूतपूर्व  नमूना रानीखेत की आम जनता ने देखा था   अब  तो कई जुगाड़ी जनों  ने जुगाड़ लगा कर जुगाड़  नामक गाड़ी ही  बना दी है
     नारायण सिंह बिष्ट नरैण के अनुसार जिस प्रकार साल मैं बावन हफ्ते होते हैं तथा बावन प्रकार के भूत होते हैं उसी प्रकार खास जुगाड़ बावन तरह की होती है  जुगाड़ की उपयोगिता तथा प्रसिद्धी को  देखते हुवे कुछ अंग्रेजों का एक ब्यापारिक शिष्ट मंडल जुगाड़ की खोज मैं भारत  आया  वह जुगाड़ का पेटेंट कराने के चक्कर मैं था   जुगाड़ क्या है, जुगाड़ कैसे की जाती है जुगाड़ कौन कर सकता है  इसकी जानकारी लेने हेतु उन्होंने  भारत भ्रमण कर डाला परन्तु वह सर धुनते रह गए परन्तु उन्हें जुगाड़ कहीं नहीं मिली  परन्तु उन्होंने  लोगों को जुगाड़ करते कहते पाया  हार झक मारकर वह वापस अपने देस  इंग्लैंड चले  गए
     आप मानें या न मानें  आज भी धड़ल्ले से जुगाड़ की  जाती है  यह बात अलग है  की इस यूज एंड थ्रो के जमानें मैं जुगाड़ का स्कोप  कम जरूर हुवा है परन्तु जुगाड़ तो जुगाड़ है यह सर्वव्यापी है तथा कहाँ पर जुगाड़ लग जाय पता नहीं.  मैं भी जुगाड़ पर लेख लिखने की जुगाड़ लगा रहा था की मुझे महान जुगाड़ी हस्थी प्रेमी जी के सुपुत्र प्रमोद चंद्र जोशी भव्वा ने जुगाड़ के बाबत नरेन की लिखी पुस्तक थमा दी. फलस्वरूप जुगाड़ पर  यह लेख आपके समक्ष है (D.N.Barola)    
 

एम.एस. मेहता /M S Mehta 9910532720

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Sir,

This is really a very very interesting. Prem Ji must have exhibited his excellent skills to fit jugad. .. great..

जुगाड़
 
Late Prem Ballabh Joshi (Premi)

मानो या ना मानो भारतवर्ष एक जुगाड़ प्रधान देश है  जुगाड़ जीवन के हर छेत्र मैं काम आती है जुगाड़ केवल भारत मैं  ही होती है और देश इस मामले मैं फिसड्डी हैं  रानीखेत के श्री प्रेमी (प्रेम बल्लभ जोशी)  पेशे से मैकेनिक                       एक महान जुगाड़ी हस्थी थे एक बार उन्होंने हेलीकॉप्टर मैं जुगाड़ फिट कर डाली  रानीखेत के पुराने लोग जानते हैं की 1959 मैं भारत के रक्षा मंत्री कृष्ण मेनन सोमनाथ ग्राउंड मैं अपने हेलीकॉप्टर से उतरे थे  हेलीकॉप्टर का एक पुर्जा ख़राब हो गया  इस बीच दिल्ली  से पुर्जा मंगाया गया पर वह फिट  नहीं हो पाया  अतः प्रेमी जी को बुलाया गया  महान जुगाड़ी प्रेमी जी अपने चेले चपाटों सहित हेलीकॉप्टर ठीक करने हो लिए  उन्होंने कभी हेलीकॉप्टर नहीं देखा था पर एक जानकर की तरह उन्होंने हेलीकॉप्टर का निरीक्षण किया भारी भीड़ के समक्ष प्रेमी जी ने चीड़ के पेड़ के बगेट से जरूरी पुर्जा बना डाला और हेलीकॉप्टर मैं फिट कर डाला  वहां पर उपस्थित इंजिनियर आश्चर्यचकित रह गए  पुर्जा हेलीकॉप्टर मैं फिट किया गया और हेलीकॉप्टर उड़ चला  अधिकारियों ने प्रेमी जी को पारश्रमिक देना चाहा पर प्रेमी जी ने बताया की वह जुगाड़ जनहित मैं निःशुल्क करते हैं अतः उन्होंने  मजदूरी लेने से इनकार कर दिया. अधिकारियों ने उन्हें शाम को हम प्याला हम  निवाला पार्टी का ऑफर दिया वह पार्टी  मैं चेलों सहित शामिल हुवे जुगाड़ का एक अभूतपूर्व  नमूना रानीखेत की आम जनता ने देखा था   अब  तो कई जुगाड़ी जनों  ने जुगाड़ लगा कर जुगाड़ नमक गाड़ी ही  बना दी है
     नारायण सिंह बिष्ट नरैण के अनुसार जिस प्रकार साल मैं बावन हफ्ते होते हैं तथा बावन प्रकार के भूत होते हैं उसी प्रकार खास जुगाड़ बावन तरह की होती है  जुगाड़ की उपयोगिता तथा प्रसिद्धी को  देखते हुवे कुछ अंग्रेजों का एक ब्यापारिक शिष्ट मंडल जुगाड़ की खोज मैं भारत  आया  वह जुगाड़ का पेटेंट कराने के चक्कर मैं था   जुगाड़ क्या है, जुगाड़ कैसे की जाती है जुगाड़ कौन कर सकता है  इसकी जानकारी लेने हेतु उन्होंने  भारत भ्रमण कर डाला परन्तु वह सर धुनते रह गए परन्तु उन्हें जुगाड़ कहीं नहीं मिली  परन्तु उन्होंने  लोगों को जुगाड़ करते कहते पाया  हार झक मारकर वह वापस अपने देस  इंग्लैंड चले  गए
     आप मानें या न मानें  आज भी धड़ल्ले से जुगाड़ की  जाती है  यह बात अलग है  की इस यूज एंड थ्रो के जमानें मैं जुगाड़ का स्कोप  कम जरूर हुवा है परन्तु जुगाड़ तो जुगाड़ है यह सर्वव्यापी है तथा कहाँ पर जुगाड़ लग जाय पता नहीं.  मैं भी जुगाड़ पर लेख लिखने की जुगाड़ लगा रहा था की मुझे महान जुगाड़ी हस्थी प्रेमी जी के सुपुत्र प्रमोद चंद्र जोशी भव्वा ने जुगाड़ के बाबत नरेन की लिखी पुस्तक थमा दी. फलस्वरूप जुगाड़ पर  यह लेख आपके समक्ष है (D.N.Barola)     
 

D.N.Barola / डी एन बड़ोला

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Nanda Devi fair of Almora & Ranikhet



Nanda is considered to be the daughter of Himalaya and Nanda Devi Peak is the residence of Goddess Parvati. Nanda Ghunti is the Sasural and Nandakot is the Darbar of Nanda.  Nanda is worshipped in two forms. One Mahishasur Mardini  and Singh Wahini. She is considered to be the Shakti.  In Kumaon, temples of Nanda Devi are situated in Nainital, Almora,Ranikhet, Ranchoola, Malla Danpur and at many places in Garhwal.  Nanda Devi is considered to be the worshipping deity of Katyuri Kings.  During the period of Chand Kings, Nanda Devi worship took the shape of a Fair.  The Fair started from Junagarh Fort situated in Garhwal.  Kumaon King Raja Baj Bahadur Chand alias Baba Gusain established Nanda Devi Shikti Peeth as a sign of victory in the temple at  Malla Mahal (At present Court).  Prior to this Nanda Devi was being worshipped, but at that time only an idol of Nanda Devi used to be worshipped. The custom to make two idols started from the period of Baj Bahadur Chand. Even today only one idol is prepared in the remote villages.

The Nanda Devi Fair used to be arranged by Chand dynasty Kings sometimes back.  The bull was also slaughters by the King. The last King Raja Anand Singh used to live in Dyori Pokhar.  The heirs of Chand dynasty Kings, K.C.Singh Baba participates in the Fair every year. About the place where Nanda Devi is held at Almora, there is a story that during British period the then Kumaon Commissioner, Mr. Trail lost his eyes during Nanda Kot Yatra.  After reaching Almora, he shifted the Nanda Idol from Malla Mahal to Udyot Chandeshwar Temple and arranged worshipping of the Nanda Devi. With the blessings of Nanda Devi, he got back his eyes, since then the Fair is held from this place.
The present Nanda Devi Mandir was constructed by Chand King Udyot Chand in 1678-1693. Prior to this the temple was named as Udyot Chandeshwar Mandir. After establishment of Nanda Devi in this temple, it was called the Nanda Devi Temple

This fare commences from Bhadrapad Shukla Panchami in September. On the Panchami day the devotees go to invite Banana trees for the celebrations.  Amidst chanting of Ved Mantras, four Banana Trees are selected by the devotees. The tree, which shivers first, is selected to prepare the Nanda Devi idols. Nanda Devi idol is given the shape of Nanda Devi Peak. The second tree is used to prepare the idol of Sunanda. The third and the fourth Banana tree is used as stand bye, because in case the first or the second tree is somewhat damaged, the third or the fourth is substituted at its place. On the seventh day, the four trees are cut and brought with great fan fare amidst the beating of drums, Nagare and Nishan. The idols are prepared from the banana tree. To make the face of the Nanda and Sunanda the cane wood is used.  It is covered with yellow cloth so that it gets the shape of a face.  To give colour to the idol rice in liquid form, Kumkum, Roli, Sindoor, Ingoor and Urad (horse-bean) is burnt to make black colour. The eyes are prepared from Biswar (liquid rice). Now the eyes are prepared from silver as well.

 The idols are decorated with the traditional attire of Kumaoni bride The idol is decorated with Sindoor on the head, Mang Tika, Bindi on the forehead, the eyebrows are decorated with Sun and Moon on the right and left eyebrows respectively, large nose ring (Nath) on the nose, necklace on the neck, Swastika sign on both the cheeks, Kundal on the ears, with Choli and Ghaghara on the body and Payjeb on the feet. 

There is a story that Nanda and Sunanda (Gaura) were the daughters of a King. While walking in the forest a bull chased them. They could hide themselves behind a banana tree.  A goat came there and ate away the banana leaves with the result Nanda and Sunanda were visible to the bull, which killed both the sisters. This is the reason that goat and bull are sacrificed during the celebrations.

The main function is held on Astami. The idols are worshipped right from the morning. Ladies do the Kirtan and Bhajan On the nineth day on Navami, Bull is slaughtered as sacrificial offering at the altar of Maa Nanda Devi and the meat is distributed as Prasad.  The devotees put the blood Teeka on their foreheads and the Nanda Devi idol is given round of the Bazaar with great fanfare. Devotees shower flower petals while the idols are taken around the city.  The idol is ultimately immersed in the river.

During the fair, people dance in groups and sing Jhore, Chanchari, Bhagnaul Bair etc. The dance is accompanied by Hurka, a local traditional small drum. The Fair gives an opportunity for rejoicing to the villagers. Folk dancers come in large numbers and dance to the tune of Hurka in groups. The Patal Bazar, which Almora is famous for, becomes a place of rejoicing. The crowd gathers around the group dancers and people enjoy the Fair.

At Ranikhet Nanda Devi Mahotsav started in 1890.  Prior to the construction of the temple Nanda Devi function used to be held in the house of a person who has space in the ground floor of his house in Zaroor Bazar (Shiv Mandir Marg).  This continued till 1997.  In the beginning a goat and bull used to be slaughtered. In 1997 Ravindra Lal Sah s/o Late Shanker Lal Sah, of Zaroori Bazar saw Nanda and Sunanda in his dreams. The Maa asked him to construct a temple in the present site.  A small temple of the Maa was constructed. In 2002 the temple was renovated and a large temple was constructed in it’s place.

Previously Banana trees were brought from village Airoli and Khaniya. Now that the banana trees are available in Ranikhet itself, the trees are cut from the city and are taken round the city with Band, Nagare Nishaan etc.  The present executive consists of Kishan Lal Sah (Kanha Seth) as President and the Secretary of the executive is Harish Lal Sah who participates actively in the entire Mahotsava. It is pertinent to mention here that Sah community considers Nanda Devi as their worshipping deity, hence they participate in the celebrations in a big way and with the cooperation of the members of other communities they celebrate the festival with great fanfare. (D.N.Barola)

 

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