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Herbal medicines in Paddar

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We are living in a country where about 54 percent of the land is under cultivation for food, ornamental and medicinal plants. It is also right that India is a largest producer of medicinal plants and is called botanical garden of the world. Thousands of plants with medicinal properties grow in India. Potential medicinal plants with official documentation are about 3000 but it has been researched that traditional practitioners across India know about 8000 such plant drugs.

Their growing importance is owed to their efficacy and negligible side effects. 70% of Indian Medicinal Plants grow in the tropical region of seacoasts, Vindhyas, Chotta Nagpur plateau, Aravalis and Himalayas. “Paddar-The Sapphire Land” as we all know is also situated in the lap of lesser Himalayas. So occurrence of plant medicines in the basket of Paddar is unquestionable.

Introduction & Historical Perspective:

We are using these floral medicines since the times when our Paddar was disconnected from the rest of the world. At that time when there were no hospitals and doctors available there to cater to the ailing population of people in Paddar, traditional hakims had monopoly over the knowledge of such plant drugs. They were always there to help the needy one with their set of collected barks and leaves. From cough to jaundice and mental-sickness to piles there was always a pill or bottle of paste in their bags to cure that. There is no dearth of floristic treasure in Paddar. It is another talk though that with the passage of time and advent of modern medicines people of Paddar showed listlessness in medicinal plants and hence in the way lost touch with the natural gluts. Also it is not quite true that this knowledge of plants moved into the thin air from the landscape of Paddar. There are still some traditional hakims in Paddar who possess this unique knowledge of plants and there are still some herbs, shrubs and roots which are in use in the current times. Here is a list of five such organic medicines:

List of famous five medicinal plants of Paddar:

Here is a list of traditional names of five such medicinal plants with uses:

  1. NAGBAS: – Usually called Nagbas or vachh in Paddar. It is widely used in the treatment of toddlers. It cures gas and many other intestinal problems. It is also a plant which can be used by the people in the higher altitudes to beat the cold. Its usage is simple. It can be easily grounded with the help of pestle and mortar for children. One small half spoon of powdered Nagbas can set the problem of gas at bay in tots. Adults can chew it simply to reap the benefits.

    Nagbas (vacch), locally used medicine
  2. SANAL: – Sanal is a name of tree. Small pieces from the bark of this tree are beneficial in the treatment of jaundice (peeliya). What you have to do is to simply grind these bark pieces and make a horrendously boiled tea of it. Consistent serving of this tea can provide a relief from the ailment.

    Bark pieces from a Sanal tree.
  3. SHAPYUTAR (ZAKHAM-E-HAYAT): – This plant grows in Paddar. It’s powder is known to have multiple benefits. One, it can be used if you are seeking relief from the problem of piles( khooni bawaseer). Second, it is known for its instant blood clotting properties. Paddaries mainly use it to counter the problem of piles.

    Zakhm-e-hayat, locally used medicine
  4. BANAFSHA: – Tea of this herb is very useful in the treatment of old cold. People in Paddar use it whenever their problem of cold irritates them for long time.

    Banafsha, herbal medicine
  5. SABEED JARI: – It is a plant which is said to have some miraculous properties which can control diabetes. It is a first of its kind which can control major problem like diabetes.

Also from the same author:

Guiding lines:

Pestle and Mortar, used in Paddar nowadays.

Before you use these it is advised you consult a traditional hakim who has good experience of these plant medicines. In every village you can find one. My grandfather Sh. Thakur Chand ji is also good at this. It is his suggestion that I am placing the photographs of these herbal medicines before you. There are plenty of other such plants with medicinal properties in Paddar which are in use nowadays. We shall upload it next time with complete details.

Authors Take:

Do you know that in rural India about 71% of the population depends upon traditional system of medicine? Today many countries are spending huge sums of money in the research of these plants. Paddar valley also needs an urgent research team which can unearth the hidden treasure and give to the world a gift of many such traditional medicines with zero side – effect percentage. Ethno-Botanical Study of Medicinal Plants of Paddar Valley has been conducted by teams though but still we feel from the data that they have published on their website that much can be collated after contacting more and more hakims in Paddar. This Biodiversity rich valley of Paddar has a lot of other medicinal things in Paddar like Kaala zeera (Bonium persicumm), Patish ( Aconiitum heterophyllum ) and Kuth( Saussurea costus) about which the world crave for.

This would become our next topic of article. Thank you.

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Sohal (Shoo) – A Lyrical Poem By Jaswinder Chouhan

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श्री जसविंदर जी ( रिनु ) द्वारा रचित यह कविता “”शो”” सोहल पाडर पे लिखी गई है| इस कविता मे उन्होंने अपने गाँव के प्रति प्रेम कि जो भावना है उसको एक कविता कि शकल दे पाडरी भाषा मे उतारा है| यह कविता बहुत ही उम्दा, बेहतरीन ओर दिल को छूने वाली है जो दिल के तह से सोहल गाँव कि तारीफ़ बयां कर रही है| आशा है आपको भी पसंद आएगी |

“” शो “”

 

शो हयाणा शो बड़ा छेड़ा ओ

अई हया दीया त अस असा लो

अगर बी फाटा त पैतर बी फाटा

ज़ल हेरे तल हना नीला-नीला घास त ट़ाटा

दहि तुनदराण त बाई घघो

 

शो हयाणा शो बड़ा छेड़ा ओ

अई हया दीया त अस असा लो

 

वटा गरां हना बैंठी जमीना

हुनशी बड़ल हेरें त्वस असर सीना

कोडा, कुकणया, दाड़ त धाना

ज़ाया न भवना यक बी रो

 

शो हयाणा शो बड़ा छेड़ा ओ,

अई हया दीया त अस असा लो

 

सामण चनाब हना कछ़ि ज़ शंडीरा

अई हया रांझा त अस असा हीरा

पार पासे दवद्धा नइ चयटा

त साफ हना धमरड़ छ़ो

 

शो हयाणा शो बड़ा छेड़ा ओ,

अई हया दीया त अस असा लो

 

शोआ मोहण हनें बड़े महाना

करने मेहनत न हेरने अपा जाना

ठुंड, जीरा, भंग त ज़ोणी की थरो

अणहे मणहो हनै अपा घर भरो

 

शो हयाणा शो बड़ा छेड़ा ओ

अई हया दीया त अस असा लो

 

पाडर अना छेड़ी हिनी शोवर जगा

कयसकी रणू पी बिशोनी माता कालका

औत गौत हनें ग्रां गुलाब गढ,

कबन,उनगा, तयार त चट्टो

 

शो हयाणा शो बड़ा छेड़ा ओ,

अई हया दीया त अस असा लो

 

रिनू थे भलयो बड़ा अनजाना

बयसरी गो थे कुणल मयो पहचाना

कणि बसने यो त कणि बसने वो

मय त टंगाइ न भवना अपड़ शो

 

शो हयाणा शो बड़ा छेड़ा ओ,

अई हया दीया त अस असा लो||

 

(कवि – रिनु )

 

आशा करते हैँ आपको यह कविता पसंद आई होगी | यदि हाँ तो शेयर कीजिये अपने दोस्तों के साथ ओर यदि आप भी कोई कविता लिखना चाहते हैँ या हमें भेजना चाहते हैँ तो हमारी ईमेल पर ज़रूर भेजें|

धन्यवाद

Chitto Yatra-2022, Paddar, Kishtwar, J&K

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Paddar is also called “Devbhoomi” (An abode of gods) because there are many deified places in Paddar which increase the prominence of land. To every such mystical and holy place there is a pious tradition of taking pilgrimages so that devotees and people of Paddar shall always remain under the prosperous blessings of these Gods and Goddesses.  Beginning with Machail Yatra which has made Paddar famous worldwide, there are many other such pilgrimages like Chitto Yatra, Shivdham Yatra, Hagyoth Yatra, Panji Dhar Yatra and Mindhal Yatra which has enriched and are still enriching the holy atmosphere of Devbhoomi with the scent of devotion. After Machail Yatra which started gaining eminence after 1987, Chitto Yatra is the second oldest yatra which made its name in the religious fabric of Paddar. Today, thousands of devotees pay obeisance at the sacred feet of Singhasan Mata, the prime deity of Chitto Paddar, every year. Now it is growing rapidly like never before but what makes people attract to this pious place and why, is something interesting and which I think we all need to know. Here is a legend:

Legend of Chitto Mata

It is said that Maa Singhasan appeared in the form of Pindi for the first time in the house of one lady called Zyus Dai, whose husband was from a place called Churah in Himachal Pradesh but had settled permanently in Chitto to live his family life. When the lady saw that steep stone (Shekh Fatt) coming out of the earth she became anxious about her house and family. One night in her deep sleep she had a dream. In the dream Maa told Zyus Dai that it was She who was coming in her home in the form of that stone and asked her whether she was happy with that or not. Upset lady made a sorry note of that and asked Maa humbly to change the place of her presence. Maa understood her problem and directed her to make a temple at the place in Chitto from where a long tower of dense sacred smoke would emanate the next morning.  She accepted Maa’s command and consecrated the place next morning in the presence of villagers. Since then Maa is protecting and doing good to the place, people believe.

Chitto Mata Yatra-2020, Paddar
Singhasan Mata Temple, Chitto Paddar

There are many stories of miracles that Maa has performed and which has made Chitto a place of great interest.  Some stories are intriguing and surprising at the same time. Here are some:

Watch documentary on Paddar by Ashish Chouhan:

Glory of Chito Mata & Some interesting facts

Temple is situated there at the place where it was consecrated in the past and Mata (a living entity) is still residing there under the curtain in full majesty inside the temple. There are many stories of Singhasan Mata which are capturing the attention of masses. Out of that, there are some stories which are popular and mind bending. Here are these:

  • Man who lost his eyesight.
  • Story of the guiding rainbow,
  • Mythical court of marriage and
  • The legendary statement of Paddri Chela.

Here is a concise note on each of these stories.

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Man who lost his eyesight:

It is believed that Singhasan Mata is living behind the drape therefore no one is allowed to peek inside the fragile but iron wall of myth in any case. But if one does so in case by going against the set rule, one would lose his/her eye sight for entire life, people believe. Once a man who was a Patwari from Chamba visited this village for some official work when Paddar was a small administrative unit of Himachal Pradesh. After listening about the myth of curtain he showed curiosity of watching behind it. Villagers tried their best to stop him but he didn’t listen to any of them and went inside the temple. He pushed the curtain to the side and peeked in oddity. All of a sudden a flash of light hit his eyes which took the light of his eyes for the rest of his life, people say. It was that day when the faith in this myth was again reposed with thunderbolt intensity. Even today, people do not take the risk of touching that curtain. Except Pujari, entry is restricted to hoi polloi.

Legend of Tatta Pani is also connected with this historic village of Paddar. Do read and know how Shaish Naga failed in negotiating with Singhasan Mata for a piece of land and know why he left the place and went to another village.

Also from the same author:

The guiding rainbow of Paddar:

There came a time in the village of Chitto when it was hit hard by the problem of water scarcity and drought like situation. People went whole hog about solving that problem but failed every time they tried. When no strategy worked in their favour they devoted all of their energy in prayers and bowed at the sacred feet of Mata to seek solution from the divine being. To their rescue, Mata became the voice of one ardent devotee and said that after the heavy rainfall of next morning She shall appear in the form of a rainbow which would decide the path for them. All they have to do is to follow the path of that rainbow and construct a small water canal which would cater to all of their demands, Mata said in the frightening roar, people say. Villagers followed the command the very next day and their problem was solved once and for all.

Story of the mythical Court of marriage:

Durbar of Mata is no ordinary. In the ancient times and even in the recent past it acted like a court of marriage for couples who rebelled against the society to find their true love. In short you can say that Singhasan Mata is a great supporter of love marriage  . Whenever the parents of eloped couples refused to accept the alliance, they suffered heavily. Nobody dared challenging the rule of Singhasan Mata. Even today, lovers go there to seek the blessings from the divinity for the success of their desired married life.

Chitto Yatra, Paddar J&K
Mukhya Chela holding holy Silver Mace

The legendary statement of Paddri Chela:

Once a mukhya chela (an ardent devotee) of Maa Khattar Mitti (Mata who took birth from the Earth) said something legendary in the 19th century which became history in the time to come. His name was Thakar Chand. One day while performing pooja in the temple in his typical deified dance he said by becoming the voice of Mata a significant statement in Paddri , I quote “Pahar Panjab Ek Bhway Ghyana” unquote, which means mountain of Paddar and plains of Punjab will become one in the times to come. Nowadays people give different meanings to this statement. Last year when electricity reached at the doorsteps of villagers in Chitto, people started repeating the above statement in joy claiming that truly mountains and plains have become one in terms of development.

Watch this interview of Mukhya Pujari of Singhasan Mata, Chitto Paddar. Here is a link of the vedio and listen what he has to say:

Start of the Chitto Mata Yatra

Usually this yatra starts from 7th or 8th of July every year. But this year (2020)
due to COVID-19 Pandemic it will start or not, no official statement has been issue in this regard. It is highly advised that people should avoid mass religious gatherings.

Though not confirmed but it is likely that Holy Chadi Yatra of Singhasan Mata will commence this year.

Schedule of Chitto Yatra

It will commence from 7th of July as usual if it will. From Chishoti this Yatra will head towards Chitto. On the way it will stop at Leondi for rest on the 7th of July. Next day its second halt would be at Sohal Paddar for a overnight stay there and then after night long bhajan kirtan (jagrata) Chadi Yatra shall reach Chitto with its full splendour. Yatras are taken to Chitto from a number of places in Jammu also.

There is also a legend behind the start of Chitto Yatra. Here it is:

Chitto Yatra Legend:

It is said that in-between 1991-92, wife of Sh.Thakur Chand ji of Chishoti Paddar fell ill. He was an employee in J&k Police so he gave his best to treat his wife in various hospitals. But to his dismay nothing cured his wife. Finally, one day he had a dream, it is said, in which Singhasan Mata told him that if he really wanted to see his wife kicking and alive he must bring yatra to Her darbar every year. Thakur Chand accepted this charge whole heartedly. He gave up his job and started this famous Yatra in 1994. Ever since, this Yatra is continuing successfully. In 2010, it got registered and its responsibility of maintenance was given to a body called “ Singhasan Mata Sevak Sanstha”. Now this body caters to all the demands of devotees every year. It is hoped that this Yatra will also become as big as Machail Yatra one day.

Last Words:

Pilgrims often find solace in pilgrimages, especially in those which are hard to reach.  Chitto  Yatra is one such. Singhasan Mata is believed to be a fusion of 9 great powers. People visit this shrine with great reverence. In addition to that, Chitto also is a very beautiful village with multitude of spectacular sceneries. It is a village of myths and stories. One must visit this legendary place to seek the blessings of Maa Bhoodati (Earth Goddess) for a happy and prosperous life.

I hope you liked this post on Chitto Mata. We will keep you updated all the time. Please share the post to your friends and yes don’t forget to pass your value-able suggestions. Your support is our oxygen. So keep supporting by sharing this post. Thank you.

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Machail Yatra-2022, Paddar, Kishtwar, J&K

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There are many reasons why people do pilgrimages but the basic two which makes one do that is for healing and blessings. Healing from different kinds of sufferings, pains and troubles and blessings sought for good health and fortune. There are many famous shrines across the world with such healing powers. Pilgrimages with such healing powers gravitate millions of devotees towards them and the famous pilgrimage of Machail Mata (Machail Yatra) is one such which has soothed many hundreds and thousands of  throbbing hearts.

Machail Yatra is the 3rd largest Yatra in Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory.

But along with that there are many things which make Machail Yatra so special, let’s know what they are.

Why Machail Yatra?

After Vaishno Devi Yatra and Amar Nath Yatra, Machail Yatra is the third largest pilgrimage of the J & K state. About 200,000 devotees pay obeisance at the sacred feet of Machail Chandi Mata every year. But what makes this yatra so special is not this fastest growing number of devotees but the big lush green pastures, snow clad lofty mountains, booming brooks, the mesmerizing view of the mighty river Chenab and supernatural hot springs of Tatta Pani which pilgrims find on their way. But, its aura doesn’t end here, Machail has also got three other special things which add feather to this yatra and excites yatris in the way. Here are these:

  • Presence of Lord Shiva on the opposite mountain.
  • World’s costliest gem stone, Blue sapphire (Neelam) on the mountain and
  • Buddhist Gompa in nearby village, Haloti Paddar.

Three Gems in Paddar:

Chandi Mata Temple Machail
Machail Temple

Lord Shiva in Paddar.

Shakti and Shiva are no two separate identities, they are one as legends say and when these two exist in one place simultaneously they become a symbol of unity, Ardhnareshwara (a single form of Shiva and Shakti)  one can say. Lord Shiva is present in Machail (in the form of Shiva Linga) exactly to the one side of the Machail Mata Mandir. Shiva Linga which is situated on the mountain top changes its colors with the change in weather. Sometimes it looks red, sometimes yellow, sometimes white and sometimes there is no Shiva, it disappears all of a sudden and this spectacle is what which makes people cry in exuberance.

Shivling in Paddar, Image: Ravi Thakur

Blue sapphire (Neelam) in Paddar.

Saffron made Kishtwar famous and Sapphire made Paddar,  people say, and it is true but how? Let’s read…

There is one small village called Sumcham there in Machail Tehsil and the narrow and dangerous road to Sapphire mines go through this village. Sapphire was discovered there sometimes in between the two years, 1881-82 during the rule of Maharaja Ranbir Singh. This blue gem sapphire stone is said to be the costliest one. It’s so costliest that it had fetched 4 lakhs of rupees once for the coffers of the then Maharaja Ranjit Singh in 1884-85 at that time. Imagine the curiosity and craving of this gemstone in the minds and hearts of people who visit Machail. From optical to ornamental it’s used in many industries now a days. These mines are protected by the force in current times but its charm in the hearts of people who visit Machail Paddar once is unassailable and this is what which makes people magnetized.

Past of Paddar Sapphires
Early Sapphire Mining at Paddar Sapphires. Credits: La Touche

Buddhist Gompa in nearby village, Haloti Paddar.

Midas touch of Buddhist culture makes Paddar Rich in heritage. There is one old Gompa in a 2 km distance from Machail in village Haloti. Its uniqueness and antiquity is what which makes people go there to turn the holy wheels of Dhamma to rinse themselves of all sins and to seek the blessings of Lord Buddha. Tibetan Style architecture of the Gompa stuns people there.There are about 10 percent Buddhist people residing in Paddar and the great Buddhist Monk and Nobel Prize winner His Highness the 14th Dalai Lama has also visited Paddar in 2010 to bless people.

Gompas in Paddar, Monastery in Paddar
Haloti Gompa Paddar, Credits: Sambel Sir

Click to know about the visit of Buddhist Gurus in Paddar.

Despite that, ear-rings of Chandi Mata ( Goddess Durga, Machail mata ,Kali or Chandi) are also a miraculous spectacle in the temple. They vibrate without the visible application of any force and devotees witnessing that get high without having any sort of intoxicating substance. All these things make Machail a hotspot in Paddar. But this is just a story of Machail and not of the whole Paddar from the heart of which devotees throng towards Machail. It will become our subject later, before that let’s know how and why this Yatra became famous.

Watch documentary on Paddar by Ashish Chouhan:

The Legend Of Machail Mata:

This journey of faith started with the unfolding of a series of events in Mindhal Bhattas and Machail.

These are as follows:

  • There was one old lady (people say) whose children started dying one by one when she stopped Maa Chandi from coming out in the form of Pindi from her house hearth. At last when that aggrieved old lady begged for mercy, Maa Chandi blessed her and a temple was constructed there.
  • In 1834 the great Dogra commander Zorawar Singh Kalhuria sought the blessings of Chandi Mata in Machail when he was on his mission to quench a rebellion in Zanskar region. He was victorious in the expedition and this incidence gained prominence for the deity.
  • In 1981 Thakur Kulbir Singh was posted in Machail as a police man. He had a dream and in his dream Maa Chandi asked him to bring a Chadi from Bhattas to start a yatra to bless the land of Paddar. He started it in 1887 and since then it is growing day by day. Previous year more than 200,000 devotees visited the Shrine of Machail Mata and the number is expected to grow this year irrespective of the last year brawl between the two groups.

Start of the famous Machail Yatra:

Machail Yatra in District Kishtwar started in 1987 with the efforts of Thakur Kulbir Singh and his family. It started from his native place called Chinot in Bhaderwah. First, hundred then thousand now it is on its way to becoming a yatra of million devotees. Chinoot in Bhaderwah and Machail in Paddar earned great name and fame after that. Now a days Chadi Yatra go to the sacred place of Machail from many places like

  • Jammu
  • Udhampur and
  • Bhaderwah
  • Ramnagar

People from all across the country now visit this place with great reverence.  Chadi is also taken from Pacca Danga, Digyana and Nagrotra Jammu. People from Punjab and other states are also showing keen interest in this yatra. People often face difficulties while doing yatra but that is what which makes a devotee humble and pious. Still an effort must be made for the ease of devotees so that they get cautious of many things. Here is a guide for all yatris which may help in making their journey easier:

Click to know about the famous Chitto Yatra.

How to Reach Machail?

There are three means of reaching Machail. You can reach:

  • Either by getting a bus or
  • By hiring a private vehicle or
  • By Air

For road travelers this Yatra can become a two or three tier journey. Firstly, they have to reach Gulabgarh and then they have two options either go on foot or go by air. I recommend journey on foot after that because this will fill you with the wonder and surprise you with the beauty of jagged landscapes, tall trees and resounding waterfalls. Chopper can pick you up and bring you back in just 15 minutes, what is the fun? This way you will miss a lot of scenic beauty.

Getting a bus is an easier task. People from Jammu can easily get it from bus-stand Jammu. Paddar is about 298 kms away from Jammu. Road is quite good but adventurous enough to thrill you. After Gulabgarh you have to cover 32 kms if you go on foot through steep hills going up and down along rough and bumpy road. You will never miss that, it is my belief.

Getting a private vehicle is also a simple task, you can get it from the bus-stand Jammu, and rest is same.

But if you are planning to go by air, you can take it from two places from Kishtwar and Gulabgarh, Paddar as per your convenience. We shall upload current fares on time to keep you updated.

Helicopter Services in Paddar
Chopper availed during this Machail Yatra

Helicopter fare will be Rs.2565 for one side and Rs. 5130 for both sides this year in 2022. Base will be Gulabgarh Paddar from where chopper‘s will fly.

Distance of Machail from different locations:

  • Jammu to Kishtwar- 233kms
  • Jammu to Paddar-298kms
  • Gulabgarh to Machail – 32kms

Accomodation and Langar Facility during Machail Yatra:

There is construction of multi storied “Machail Mata Yatri Bhawan” going on in the Gulabgarh. It comprises around 42 guest rooms, cloak room, dormitories with bathrooms and toilet facilities, shopping complex and has latest architecture conference hall. The complex also houses the langar facility here throughout the month of August which caters to all the devotees. This building has the capacity to accommodate around 1000 tourists per day. You can also get langar facility in the way till you reach Machail which is situated 2960 meters above the sea level. At Machail tents are available but their sky-rocketing fares pose a problem. One can get bandy words with them sometimes for the reduction in the fares being charged.

Last Words:

Maa Durga Shrine or Machail Mata Shrine is famous across the length and breadth of the country. Machail is situated in the lap of lesser Himalayas and this location makes it fit not only for devotes but for trekkers, researchers and curiosity driven people as well. Presence of Sapphire and Lord Shiva side by side on the mountains increases the magnificence of the land. It is a must visit place for all the devotees, knowledge seekers and adventure lovers. Mighty river Chenab and its garland resembling tributaries are whetting to offer you grand welcome.

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“”मेरी पुकार”” (A Poem on Maa Chandi Machail)

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पिछले साल मचेल मे हुए झगड़े को लेकर कई लोगों मे ये शंका थी कि माँ चंडी नाराज़ हो गई होंगी… उसी शंका को दूर भगाने और बैर कि भावना को हमेशा के लिए पनपने से रोकने के लिए ये शब्द माँ चंडी ने मेरे दिल मे प्रकट किए, जो ये कविता के रूप मे उभर आए | ध्यान से पढ़िए और दिल मे उतारिए….

“”मेरी पुकार””

यही पर्वत थे तब भी

जब मेरी लौ किसी मे जागी थी

जब तब वैभव मेरा नहीं थमा

तो फिर भला अब कैसे थमेगा

पत्ते तो हर पतझर गिरते हैँ

फिर बहार कब कहो रुकी है

अंधेरा तो हर रोज़ होता है

फिर सवेरा कब कहो रुका है

फिर चंद झगड़ों से ये मशाल, भुझेगी

तुमने ये कैसे सोच लिया

फिर चंद लोगो से इस धरती की शान, गिरेगी

तुमने ये किसे मान लिया

तुम कोना छांटो इस भ्रमांड का

तुम गाँव शहर केवल मत देखो

मे काली, मे जीवन हूं, मे ही हूं सृष्टि

तुम माँ चंडी ही केवल मुझ मे मत देखो

मे मृत्यु हूँ, मे ही जीवन

तुम झगड़ों के बांध से मुझे मत सींचो

मे मचैल हूँ, मे ही पूरे देश

तुम गाँव शहर मे रेखा मत खींचो

तुम लाख पहाड़ बनाओ अपने मन मे

रण मे टूट जाने हैँ ये क्षण मे

जंजीरे फैंक ये मन की तुम करो ये काम

विमान से नहीं, तनिक पैदल ही आओ एक बार मेरे धाम

फिर जानो गे कि…

यही पर्वत थे तब भी

जब मेरी लौ किसी मे जागी थी

जब तब वैभव मेरा नहीं थमा

तो फिर भला अब कैसे थमेगा ||

 By: Ash

कोटि कोटि धन्यवाद ||

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The Legend of Hyuna Bwadhi (Old Snow Lady)

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Myths and stories have shaped the lives of human beings profoundly and have given edge over other creatures to explore the planet. Our ancestors also had given birth to many such legends and myths that have glued us for so long to our society and identity. Here is one such which will force you to think more about the ancient cultural history of Paddar.

Legend of Hyuna Bwadhi:

It is held that in the mid of March, an old woman of snow called (Hyuna bwadhi) in Paddri, takes bath at the bank of a river after living underwater for certain days. Thereafter she starts her journey upwards along the mountain she came from. Some men are also believed to be with her who help her carry in a palanquin.

In her upward journey she halts at 2 or 3 caves where she and her aides sit together for dinner. They spend a whole night there and feast on animals like goats and lambs etc. She has been considered a powerful woman with some mystical powers who could do many wonders with magic.

Many consider her a lady who brings misfortune to the people of Paddar and therefore they throw some items they frequently use before her ascension like shoes (poole) lice, flour and ashes etc. from a particular place in fear so that they could keep her happy with that.

They also recite some lines after throwing these items which go like this:

Ge Hyuna, Ay Barsha( Go winters, come summer)

Ghe kuyo aze baithyo (Go girls, come daughter-in-laws)

Dhoon daben, fwal barge( Smoke fades, flowers bloom)

Lag-chag, ghare apan bag ( Take to your fields, all the Rituals and traditions)

Ghe dhamio, aze kamio( Go invited ones, come active ones)

Ghe chhaario, aze dudhario (Go buttermilk manufacturers, come milkmen)

On reaching back to home they knock the main door of the kothi( room), but people inside the kothi don’t open the door and this poetic conversation between them goes on:

Khol darwaza( Open the door!)

Kon beer?(Who is there?)

Mahaveer(Great man)

Kyun aaya, kahan se aaya? (Why and from where have you come?)

Ghar Lanka se aaya ( I have come from place Lanka )

Kya kya laaya?( What have you come with?)

Heere, Moti, daal, jowhaar (Diamonds,Pearls, pulses, jowhar)

Ye sab laaya. (All this)

Patya tlak tlak…..(sound of a bird)

(Then the door opens and they go inside….)

After her ascension to the mountain top she dissolves herself in the colossal Himalayan glaciers and stays there for the rest of summers.

With the end of summer she restarts her downward journey along with her aides again in the month of January and February. This cycle of her repeats every year and people react to that accordingly. Some don’t come out of their houses and some stop going into the jungles for wood or other doings. Her upward and downward journey brings heart of many villagers in their mouth.

Lessons from the legend:

Basically, this legend signifies the off and on of winters. Here the old woman stands for snow ( Hyun is a Paddri word for snow and bwadhi,  an old woman ) and her aides for other climatic factors which help her go up and down.

As Paddar is about 6360 feet above sea level and lies in the valley of Pir Panjal Range so the fall of snow almost begins here in the month of November and December and continues till March.

By the end of March it begins to retreat, so does the old woman of the legend. Thus the old woman is nothing but a symbol of snow which with the dawn of winter season starts coming down along the mountains, slowly, which then reaches the river bed in the form of avalanches through steep brooks under the force of gravity.

Thereafter snow cover starts retreating to the upper reaches of the mountains and by mid-summer it looks only on the mountains tops in the form of glaciers and then the cycle repeats all over again. Now many of you might ask about the secret of her magical powers and depiction of the woman as an old lady in the legend.

The answer is simple that the mountains of Paddar are always covered with snow, even during the summer season. Villagers are able to see it all the time but it’s been observed that with the flow of time the size of glaciers has reduced as compared to the past, it is shrinking therefore year after year, like an old woman whose face starts developing wrinkles when she becomes old and is near about kicking the bucket and this is the reason she is depicted “old” and not young in the legend. That is a bad message though but we never gave a second thought to it.

Water is life, we all know that, and in many cultures it is also revered as a goddess, so is in ours and as snow is just another state of water therefore it has also been given a feminine gender in the legend.

Many animals also die due to the cold chilling wind and snow of the winters as we know that and I hope that many of you are aware of the fact that water is also called a live mini-computer because of its mood swinging molecule and that no two fallen snowflakes are similar in design.

It also acts as an excellent insulator which rejuvenates the land from the deep and therefore it helps in increasing the fertility of soil in some way. These are the magical powers of snow.

Now moving on to the influence that it has had on the lives of the people of Paddar:

As we know that it becomes difficult to take bath in winters when the entire land around is covered under the blanket of snow. It becomes uneasy for the people to leave the warmth of house (kothi) and go for other outside chores, which in the legend has been associated to give rise to birth of lice and other insects because of the absence of cleanliness.

Shoes made of dry grass (poole) begin to rot down because of their disuse and therefore these are the things in the tradition that people throw every year at the time of sankranti (beginning of a new phase) in the month of March in order to keep their houses neat and clean.

The couplet written above also says that people become sick of winters and they don’t want it to stay there any longer as it paralyzes the entire working system of the valley. So they beg its departure by singing this song.

This describes our culture during winters. This shows that our ancient Paddar used to struggle hard in order to cope-up with the winters. Storage of enough wood and other eatable items were essential for them to spend the time of three long months.

They used to knit their shoes by themselves with the help of dry string like grass and most importantly they were aware of all the dangers that winters brought along with it. This legend also worked as a calendar in the past for the people.

From calling the woman old to her possession of mystical powers, our ancestors are signaling something to the posterity to think upon. But we pay less heed to it. How unfortunate it is! Isn’t it?

Hope you liked the ideas. Please share and comment and let us know more about what you think of the legend and the lessons I have fut forth you…Thank You