9 Kullu villages go silent for 42 days to appease deity

Dipender Manta

Tribune News Service

Mandi, January 17

Residents of nine villages in Kullu district have been observing silence since Makar Sakranti (January 14) for a period of 42 days to appease the local deity, Gautam Rishi.

The villagers believe that on the occasion of Makar Sankranti, every year, deity Gautam Rishi leaves his abode to join the deity council in heaven and he stays there for the next 42 days. During this period, he meditates and the noise from earth may disturb him.

To avoid the wrath of the deity, the residents of Goshal, Solang, Shanag, Kothi, Palchan, Ruar, Kulang, Majhach and Burua of Ujhi valley in Kullu district follow this age-old tradition every year strictly. They turn their television and radio sets off for the next 42 days. The villagers switch off all sources of entertainment to appease the deity.

Turn off television, radio sets

• To avoid the wrath of the deity, Gautam Rishi, residents of Goshal, Solang, Shanag, Kothi, Palchan, Ruar, Kulang, Majhach and Burua of Ujhi valley in Kullu district follow this age-old tradition every year strictly.
• They turn their television and radio sets off for the next 42 days. The villagers switch off all sources of entertainment to appease the deity. They even keep mobile phones in the silent mode for the period.

The deity’s temple is situated at Goshal village under the Manali subdivision in Kullu.Talking to The Tribune, the villagers said during that period, people of the nine villages avoided cultivation of land and pruning of apple plants.

Suresh Kumar, a resident of Ujhi valley, said, “We have faith in our deity, so the people of the valley are following this age-old religious ritual since ages. During that period, we turn our radio and television sets off in our houses and keep mobile phones on the silent mode on the village premises.”

Pratap Thakur, a resident of Shanag panchayat, said, “Legend has it that on Makar Sankranti deities’ assembly begins in heaven for more than a month and our deity Gautam Rishi also leaves for the meeting. He comes back after 42 days and predicts the year’s happenings through his ‘Gur’. During this period, he wants pin-drop silence in these villages.”

“No puja is performed in the temple and it remains closed till the return of the deity. The temple is shut 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 will face a fire incident and grain indicates a good harvest,” he added.