For Quick Alerts
Subscribe Now  
For Quick Alerts
ALLOW NOTIFICATIONS  
For Daily Alerts
Oneindia App Download

Tihar festivities end on a subdued note in the Hills of North Bengal

By Amitava
|
Google Oneindia News

Darjeeling, October 21: Tihar, one of the most important festivals of the Hills of North Bengal ended on Saturday on a subdued note this year. The present political uncertainty, inclement weather coupled with sky-high rates of marigold robbed the festival of the age old charm.

File photo of marigold chains being sold during Tihar

Tihar is a 5 day long festival celebrated by the Nepali community during Diwali. Marigold flowers are one of the most important component for this festival.

Houses are decorated with marigold chains and marigold garlands are offered to brothers by sisters on the day of Bhai Tika.

"This year the cost of flowers is sky high. The usual chains costing Rs. 10 each sold at Rs. 50 this year" complained Kala Chettri, a local resident. Usually roadside stalls selling marigold chains come up during Tihar in the Hills. This year the number was scanty owing to the crisis and high price.

The flower sellers blamed it on short supply. "In Siliguri and Darjeeling flowers are sourced from South Bengal. Floods caused intensive damage and cultivators claim that there was hardly any harvest. Hence flowers are in short supply resulting in the exorbitant cost" stated Krishna Das, a flower shop owner in Siliguri.

The recent political unrest coupled with the 104 day long bandh definitely cast a shadow on festivities. "The hills are reeling under an economic crunch which is the result of the political unrest. Government employees have not got salary for the three months of closure; tea garden workers have not received bonus as well as wages for the period, shops and business establishments had remained closed for 104 days. Most of the Hill residents have been economically affected, under these conditions one could not held but celebrate on a mellowed note" stated a resident.

The weather too was a major damper with sporadic rainfall since Friday.

Dipawali is unique in Darjeeling. The 5 days of "Tihar" or "Yamapanchak," is commemorated in honor of "Yamaraj" - the mythological Lord of Death. The first day of Tihar is Kak Tihar, dedicated to the crows, believed to be the bird associated with Yamaraj. On this day food is left on rooftops and open spaces for the crows.

The next day is the Kukur Tiwar. On this day marigold garlands are put on dogs along with vermillion applied on forehead of dogs. After a round of worshipping, the dog is offered a sumptuous meal. Even stray dogs are not left out on this day and people offer food to them also.

There is mythology attached to Kukur Tiwar. It is believed that the gates of Yamaraj's palace is guarded by a dog. It is also believed that when King Yudhistira (the eldest of the Pandavas as narrated in the epic Mahabharata) managed to reach the gates of heaven in his human form, Yamaraj had accompanied him taking the guise of a dog. The dog is also the steed of the fearful Bhairaba, the God of destruction.

The third day of Tihar which falls on the day of Dipawali and is also commemorated as Gai Tiwar. Early in the morning the cow which symbolises goddess Laxmi is worshipped. The houses are painted and marigold garlands are put on doors to welcome the goddess Laxmi.

In the evening after Laxmi Puja, tika is annointed on the forehead of seven small girls as they are worshipped as the forms of Laxmi. Diyo or Lamp is lit in the main altar of the house. Along with the Diyo, copper vase called Gagri is kept filled with water and decorated with flowers. Groups of girls dressed in traditional Gunue Cholo, sit outside the main entrance of houses and sing the traditional "Bhailo."

The next day of Gai Tiwar or Laxmi Puja is the Goru Tiwar the day dedicated to the ox. In the evening "Deushi" is sung by groups of boys attired in traditional "Daura Suruwal" and playing the traditional musical instruments, madal, chyabrung and jhyamta. Deushi is same as Bhailo in essence, being a form of blessing but it is sung by boys.

Both Bhailo and Deushi are forms of folk culture. Both have got a common mythological background. According to mythology during the Satya Yug, Lord Vishnu in the form of a dwarf had asked for alms from King Bali. King Bali was renowned for his charitable nature.

Keeping to his word King Bali gave away his kingdom to Lord Vishnu. The girls of his kingdom fearing destruction, in groups, prayed to Goddess Laxmi to bestow the Kingdom with riches so that the lost glory of the Kingdom could be regained.

Bhailo has emerged from this and is a derivative of Bhela which in Nepali means to form a group. After having acquired Bali's Kingdom, Lord Vishnu asked for more alms. Helpless King Bali surrendered stating that he had nothing else to offer except his head. Deushi is derivative from "Deu" meaning to give and "Shirey" meaning head. The five day Tiwar concludes with the " Bhai-Tika."

No festival is complete without special festival food. A sumptuous traditional Tihar spread includes "Sel Roti "(traditional sweet bread) and different types of "Aachar" (pickles.)

OneIndia News

For Daily Alerts
Get Instant News Updates
Enable
x
Notification Settings X
Time Settings
Done
Clear Notification X
Do you want to clear all the notifications from your inbox?
Settings X
X