Know, what is the Ghunghutiyo festival celebrated on Makarsankrati in Kumaon, Uttarakhand?

Dehradun, 13 January, 2021, Wednesday

The Ghunghutiyo festival celebrated on Makarsankranti in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand is its unique identity. On this day people make khichdi prasad by adding different types of beans to rice. It is also called the festival of black crows as it attracts black crows by making dishes from sesame and jaggery. In the vernacular, Ghudhutia is called a festival. Crows are more important than kites in Makarsankranti. Parents feed the crows to the children and the black crow eats the roaring garland. Ghunghuti Mala is also mentioned in the folk music of Uttarakhand. There is also a folklore behind the Ghunghutiya festival in Kumaon.

Kumaon was ruled by a king of the Chandravansh. King Kalyan of this dynasty did not have children but a son is born by going to the Vaghnath temple with the queen and praying. In his childhood, a prince named Nirbhaychandra was called Ghudhuti in Raja Rani Lad. The necklace was adorned with pearls and the legs were adorned with beads. He loved to wear a garland around his neck, so whenever he made a storm, his mother would talk about giving the garland to the crow. Ghundhuti immediately calmed down when he heard the crow giving his favorite garland. When the king's minister loses his teeth to sit on the king's throne, the minister takes Ghunghuti to the forest.

On this day people get up early and bathe in cold water in the holy reservoirs. Religious fairs are also held in some places. Folk songs and hymns are organized. However, the number of crows has been declining over the years and the fading tradition has faded. Makarsankrati, a special festival of the black crow in its original form, is still celebrated among the older generation and in the hinterland.