festival Archives - SearchKashmir

January 1, 2014October 12, 2020

Yach

Pedestal with Yaksha and two lions, 9th century, Kashmir
Image: metmuseum

We know the story…

“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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The setup for the offering.

Khetchi Mawas, foodies’ peace treaty with Yakshas
Khich Mavas: a Feast for Yetis and Dogs

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Previously:
Ghoul, Goblin, Succubi and Other Ethereal Preternatural Beings of Kashmir

March 20, 2013October 12, 2020

Ja’tee tee, Ritual Burning of Kangri

I witnessed the scene for the first and only time probably in the beginning of spring of year 1989. I must have been seven when I saw my uncle dancing with a burning Kangri. That was the last time I witnessed the ritual of Ja’tee tee. The scene stuck in my mind. The joy of it. Then we moved to Jammu in 1990 and that was that.

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.

video link

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February 18, 2012October 12, 2020

Herath File

It has become a festival of sound. Right now, I await a sound from Jammu. A phone call. My grandmother will declare that the pooja is over and that dinner can be had. The festival begins. ‘The’ festival. Right now, I see people searching for audio of ‘Vatak Pooja’. They search for a sound. Instructions. I know the sound. Now too familiar. they search of unfamiliar instructions. I know how the scene will play: one controls the tape, one serves the gods, one manages the family, one plays the funny guy. No ordinary marriage this. The Ashen Mad god gets married. I pick this book, by someone who thinks he probably saved something. I read this ditty, explaining 15 days of Shivratri. Something survived. I know these sounds. Okdoh, Mavas, Herath, Vagur…

Akh tI akh Kho’daya,
One and One is God
ZItI zin gyaDIra
Two is bundle of firewood
Trayshkal Duna
Three faced perfect Walnut
Tsor kunj alam
Four cornered world
PAntsh gAyi PanDav
Five were Pandavs
She’tI’she Re’shi
Six were Reshis
Sath ZalI satam
Seven are Jwala’s flames
ATh Huri ATham
Eight, Her day. Ragnya’s day.
Nav tsitIr navam
Nine, we meditate (rest)
Dah dya’rl aAhAm
Ten, money flows
Kah gaDi Kah
Eleven, let’s eat fish
VagIri bah
Twelfth, god’s messenger Vagur is here
He’rItsI truvah
Thirteenth, Herath is on thirteen
KralI tso’dah
Fourteenth, pay the potters
Duni mavas
Fifteenth, let’s eat those walnuts
SozIni okdoh
One, send out those walnuts
Wah BAli Wah ti wah Bali wah
Dance, little girl! Dance!
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And this is how it actually goes. Made this recording a couple of years ago at home. It is delightful madness. If it is Herath and you are missing the sound. Do tune in. Play around with the play button. And Herath Mubarak.