Tonight my family will be performing an ancient Kashmiri ritual. We are going to offer food to the strange beings that dwell in the high mountains and come down on this day to check if the truce that was offered by them long ago is still being honored or not. Kashmiri Pandits call the night called Khech Mavas or the Khichdi Amavas. On this day lentils cooked with rice are kept outside the door for the Yech to feast on. Yech is the operational word for Yakhshas, Nagas and Pishachas – the mythical ancient demi-god residents of Kashmir. Khech Mavas is a yearly reenactment of the peace treaty that was arrived at by the demi-god and the humans. Humans would offer Yech food on this day so that Yech would not bother them in the tough winters. Humans would draw a circle around their house, a circle that Yech wouldn’t cross and outside the peripheral door Khichdi would be kept. Locals would tell stories of a strange toupeed being that would visit each house to claim his food. It was believed that whoever manages to steal the golden topi off the Yech‘s head stands to attain all the riches of the world. Children, a bit fascinated and mostly terrified, would often try to sneak a view of this super being, they would stay up late into the night, eyes glued outside the window towards the door. Of course no one came. This was the day of feast for dogs. Dogs traditionally have a claim on a certain portion of Pandit’s meal – a Kashmiri Pandit offers Hoon Myet or Dog Morsel, to a symbolic dog before commencing to have his meal. But on this day, dogs were treated extra specially, even garlanded and then offered food.*After fifteenth day of the dark half of the month of ‘Paush’, Yakshas come down from mountains and roam free in the valley of Kashmir. On this day an old treaty is honored. Rice is cooked with lentils and served to the guardians spirits of Kubera on a plate with cooked radish and some pickle.
Image: metmuseum
“In the modern folk-lore of Kashmir, the Yaksha has turned into the Yech or Yach [Yo’c’he], a humorous, though powerful, sprite in the shape of a civet cat of a dark colour, with a white cap on his head. This small high cap is one of the marks of the Irish fairies, and the Incubones of Italy wear caps, “the symbol of their hidden, secret natures.” The feet of the Yech are so small as to be almost invisible, and it squeaks in a feline way. It can assume any shape, and if its white cap can be secured, it becomes the servant of the possessor, and the white cap makes him invisible.”
~ ‘The popular Religion and Folklore of Northern India’ (1896) by W. Crooke
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Hi Vinayak,
Great insight on the ritual. For some reason, I couldn't understand the point implied in second image. Can you elaborate on this?
As a kid I always imagined Yech as a furry creature with a fur cap. That dress in the pic looked interesting.
It indicates a link with the first image, and that the mythological creature of yech (mleccha) could be an adaptation of the Tibetan people in their traditional dress (as interpreted by the Kashmiri’s) at that time.
Hi i don't think its hoon myet ..i have heard of it as Havan myeet a way of cleansing the hand before eating.The hot rice that would be held in the hand and molded into a myeet…but honestly don't know the truth
Well home Kashmir snowy winter time, Gaad Bata now Kechdi mavas were cultural and customary ethos made to venerate all living, mythical, legedary myraid,scary librinth carried over existence of Kashmir pandit clans now overshadowed by Islamic crusade it is more pain as our community our children those not yet born has been forced in to exintinction? Pain
It is believed that in ancient times in Kashmir when there was snow fall yaksh or in Kashmiri language yech used to come to plains from higher mountains ranges.These yaksh used to frighten people living in valley for food as there was snow everywhere
In nutshell they promised the people in valley that they will never disturb or frighten them if on the day of amavasya they will prepare a khichri for them and keep it outside there house
It yaksh amavasya. Puja is kuber puja.
Have written about it in another post here about: yaksh amavasya
Thaks for the post and the knowledge. I understand that Yetch were not pisach at all.
Thanks for this post Sir
Many things today come to know, that is very important for us.
And I also believe in Yetis.
Yes, they are in the Himalayas, which protects our mountains, nature, and the Himalayas.