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On the
first day of the navaratris (nine day holy period) of the
month of Chaitra women fill baskets with soil and sow
seven types of grains in them. The grains germinate
symbolizing the future harvest. These yellow leaves,
called Harela, are cut on the tenth day and people put
them on their heads and behind their ears. During the
month of Chaitra (March-April) brothers send presents to
their sisters. These presents are called Bhitauli.
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Harela is peculiarly a Kumaoni festival to mark the advent
of the rainy season. The celebration falls on the first
day of Shravan. Ten days before the due date, seeds of
either five or seven kinds of grains are mixed together
and sown in pots inside the room, using small baskets
filled with earth. The sowing is done either by the head
of the family or the family priest. It is done
ceremoniously. Water is sprinkled after worship. On the
last day of the month of Aasarh, one day before the actual
celebration of the festival, a kind of mock weeding is
done with small wooden hoes. Gaily painted images of Shiva
and Parvati and their off springs are prepared and
worshipped on the Shankranti day. Green shoots Harela are
placed on the head gear.
The significance of Harela lies in the fact that it
provides an opportunity to the cultivator to test the
qualities or defects of the seeds he has in his store.
Another significance is that the festival is the occasion
to give taken monetary allowances - pocket money to the
young girls of the family.
However, the more popular Harela is the one that is
celebrated in the month of Shravan to commemorate the
wedding of Lord Shiva and Parvati and to welcome the rainy
season and the new harvest. On this day people make
Dikaras* or clay statues of Gauri, Maheshwar, Ganesh etc.
and worship them. Even the overworked bullocks are given a
rest on the occasion of Harela. People put the blades of
freshly cut Harela on their heads and send them to their
relatives and friends as well.
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