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 their bravery and the women
therefore destroy the plant ceremonially to remind the
local people of the incident and to prevent further
mishaps.
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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.
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.
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. |
