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| Snowclad Darkhul the seat of Devta Gudaru |
Ball had started rolling for the
upcoming festival of Shaant – The Festival of the Hills, at my native village
of Diswani, ever since Pratishtha (in Pahari dialect: Patishta) of Devta Gudaru
of Diswani was done at the revered sanctum of Darkhul in January 2009.
Whole village had contributed to the re-construction
of the Darkhul, and it was only over in later end of the year 2008 and on
January 6th to 8th, 2009 village hosted celebration of Pratishtha Yagya by
inviting Devtas from nearby villages.
But the three day Yagya last held in
December 1968, has its inception, centuries back, from the same very village, so
this festival is homecoming of the tradition of Shaant Yagya celebrated in Rohru region
of the erstwhile Shimla hill state. Another village in the Rohru region
hosted this festival in 2014 (See Pic)
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| Shaant Yagya at Devidar village, 2014 | Shimla Life |
I am humbled by the words of my
elders, who while speaking about the significance of this festival have me told
me that this yagya seeks welfare, peace and prosperity to all. As the
name suggest in Sanskrit 'Shaant' means 'at peace'. The celebration shall be in
the Shaivaite tradition of Himalayas country and deities shall be
honoured with three day long Yagya, along with sacrifice. People will
celebrate this occasion no less than celebrations of marriage in every household
welcome anyone and everyone to their house. "No-one should stay
hungry", declared one of our village elder, "for these three days. It
will be a test of our village as gracious hosts."
First day called the Sangheda, will
welcome devotees, guest Khoond (village tribes) and their invited village
deities; second day named Shikha-Pher will have two of the invited village
deities taking roles of leading ceremony of Shika and Pher. Shikha Poojan will
be done on the top of the Darkhul (see pic) and Pher or the Parikrama of whole village will have
designate village deity cover the whole village to secure it. And final day of
Uchhadpachhadi will see final ceremony in the lawns of Darkhul on 10th
December, following which all devotees shall lead to their respective places.
And just like you loved ones who stay
long, we also want them to sleep-over. Some of the village trible and the
village deity can and many a time do stay in Darkhul as guest.
Shaant Dates: 8,9,10 January 2017
Full Address: Diswani village, Rohru, Distt Shimla, Himachal Pradesh.
