Villagers shun TV, radio to appease deity

Dipender Manta

Tribune News Service

Manali, January 16

Residents of Goshal village in Kullu district will shun television and radio for the next month-and-a half to appease Gautam Rishi, a local deity. They will also keep their mobile phones on silent mode to avoid disturbing the deity, who they believe will remain in meditation till the next 42 days.

Chaman Lal, the temple priest, said, “According to legend, the doors of the Gautam Rishi temple are closed on Makar Sankranti, as it believed that he along with Kanchan Nag left of their abodes to meditate.

They returned to the temple after 42days. The temple doors will be reopened on February 24, the day the deities are believed to return.”

Till the deities return, the villagers neither cultivate their land and use iron instruments nor solemnise marriages.

Pratap Singh, a villager, said, any noise might displease our deity that would bring bad luck to the village, adding it’s a tradition they have followed for centuries.

The temple is closed after spreading mud on the floor. There is a belief that a flower on the mud symbolises happiness and prosperity, charcoal denotes fire-related tragedy and remains of grains indicate good harvest.