Nine Kullu villages go silent for 42 days

Dipender Manta

Tribune News Service

Mandi, January 18

People of nine villages in Kullu district will maintain a pin-drop silence till February 25 to follow the age-old custom to appease the local deity Gautam Rishi.

According to a legend, every year the local deity at Goshal village goes to heaven to attend assembly of deities on Makar Sankranti and returns after 42 days.

The locals said during that period, the deity wanted silence in nine villages of the Ujhi valley (Goshal, Solang, Shanag, Kothi, Palchan, Ruar, Kulang, Majhach and Burua) which followed Gautam Rishi. In Goshal village, the temple of the deity would remain shut for devotees during that period.

Suresh Kumar, a native of Goshal village, said: “To escape the wrath of the deity, we keep mobile phones on silent mode and don’t watch TV. The work in agriculture field also comes to halt as we refrain from using agriculture instruments like spade for digging and scissors for pruning of apple orchard.”

“We have been following the practice since centuries. During this period, we stop listening to music and performing household chores and even agricultural work,” he added.

The villagers believe that the noise from the earth will disturb the deity, which will make him angry. This will spell doom for the people, their crops and livestock.

Chaman Lal, a priest of local deity, said, “According to the legend, it is believed that on Makar Sankranti, deities’ assembly begins in heaven for more than one month and our deity Gautam Rishi also leaves for the meeting. He will come back after 42 days and predict the happenings in the year to villagers through his ‘Gur’.”

The temple is closed after spreading mud on the floor. It is believed that when the temple is reopened if a flower surfaces on the mud, it symbolises happiness for the villagers. If charcoal appears, it indicates that the village would face a fire incident. Grain indicated a good harvest, he said.

As per tradition, the locals start their routine activities only when the deity is back in the temple. The Kullu district is known for its religious activities, where the confluence of deities can be seen during a week-long Dasehra festival at the famous Dhalpur ground.

What legend says

• According to a legend, every year the local deity at Goshal village goes to heaven to attend assembly of deities on Makar Sankranti and returns after 42 days
• The villagers believe that the noise from the earth disturbs the deity. This will make him angry and it will spell doom for the people, their crops and livestock
• He will come back and predict the happenings in the year to villagers through his ‘Gur’
• As per tradition, the locals start their routine activities only when the deity is back in the temple.