In Jammu, this year, after spending months trying to motivate my uncle, I finally got him to reenact the ritual around this Teela Aetham (‘Eigth of the oil/sesame’, held on the 8th day of the bright fortnight of Phalguna month of the lunar calendar).
The ritual is simple. We pick an old worn out Kangri, take out its earthen pot, fill the remenant wooden remains with dry grass, tie a rope to it one of the handles, set the Kangri on fire, hurl is around in circles singing: Ja’tee tee, Ja’tee tee… It’s alight, it’s afire.
In Kashmir the ritual would be held on a river bank and at the end, the lit Kangri would be hurled into the river. This Pandit ritual symbolized end of winter and the beginning of spring.
I made this short video and later showed it to my grandmother who then remembered an old ditty for Ja’tee tee.
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Thanks for uploading the video of this. I've only heard stories of this from my parents, but at least now I've seen how they would have celebrated this.
You are welcome!
Vinayak, beautiful writing, great photos you share, I am hooked to the blog, seems like a very convenient and beautiful space to stay connected to my roots. Almost 25 years since my last visit to Kashmir, would love to take my kids to the heaven on earth…..your blog may get me to take that trip sooner….. Thanks
Thanks for writing in! Please do go visit Kashmir and I hope it turns out to be a wonderful experience.