Now Reading: Centuries-old victory ritual revived in Uttarakhand border village
-
01
Centuries-old victory ritual revived in Uttarakhand border village
Gunji, a Himalayan border village in Uttarakhand's Pithoragarh district, revived the centuries-old 'Jumli Hya Samo' ritual on Saturday after a 12-year gap. Residents symbolically beheaded an effigy of a legendary Jumli king,…
The Story in Brief
Gunji, a Himalayan border village in Uttarakhand's Pithoragarh district, revived the centuries-old 'Jumli Hya Samo' ritual on Saturday after a 12-year gap. Residents symbolically beheaded an effigy of a legendary Jumli king, using blood from a black goat to apply victory tilaks. The ceremony commemorates deliverance from the ruler's tyranny, according to oral tradition.
Villagers dressed in traditional attire marched to Phasganj ground, where the village head severed the effigy's head with one sword stroke. The Indo-Tibetan Border Police, SSB, and BRO attended. Festivities continued Sunday with cultural performances and a community feast.
The Indian Opinion
Officialdom's appetite for 'cultural revival' is selective. While a 12-year-old ritual resurfaces with ITBP help, other forgotten traditions wither without a tourist angle. The government's role should be enabling, not curating. To test sincerity, watch whether Gunji's temple gets restoration funds on par with the festival's police bandobast.
Source: newindianexpress.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
