| Bhadarwah Development Authority-Cursary Glance of Bhadarwah |
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A CURSARY GLANCE AT THE HISTORY OF BHADERWAH The place which "Mahanju Daru and Harappa" civilization has in Indian history, the same place with history of Duga Nagar and Vdho Nagar civilization has in the history of Bhaderwah. In ancient times Bhaderwah had been a sovereign and prosperous state. These ancient cities of Duga Nagar and Audho Nagar were situated in area of village Monda and Sartingal and their capital at "Garah" Sungli. It is said that Pandavas performed the Ashumag yajna (Horse sacrifice), the "Sham Karan" horse was taken from the then king of Bhaderwah Sawan. It is said that there was a big university here in these days having the capacity of lodging and boarding for about one thousand students. Due to the volcanic havoc created by Kalaish mountain the Dugha Nagar was buried under the heavy bounders, which still exist there. The king Udho establish another city naming Woho Nagar about one Km. away from the Dugha Nagar. This city also fell prey to natural clamity of Kailash mountains and was submerged. The cities continued to destroy but the ruling clan continued to live. Although economically people deteriorated but king’s continued to establish new cities. When Udho Nagar submerged then king Bharat was the ruller. He then establish an other city near present power house after his name and called it "Bhadravart". These days that area is called "Bhadrot". After that Bhadarwah was ruled by "Naga Dynasty" but after some time the rulers became weak. At that time a powerful kingdom of Bhadu Blawar existed and its rulers conquered and annexed the states of Bhaderwah Basohli to their Kingdom. Afterwards Prince Radhk was given the state of Bhaderwah and he ruled it calling himself Raja Lakshmi Dev. This dynasty ruled Bhaderwah upto sixteen generations. During this period a noble king named Nagpal impressed Mughal king Akbar with its spiritual power and undaunted courage. The famous Mala Pat Bhaderwah is celebrated in memory of that historical event since then, when ‘Nagas" became the rulers of Bhaderwah, they shifted their capital to Bhaderwah proper called Nagar. The last king of this dynasty was "Pahar Chand". In 1821 AD Bhaderwah became the part of J&K State. When Maharaja Partap Singh was crowned as king, Bhaderwah was given as "Jagir" to his younger brother Raj Amar Singh. Then Bhaderwah constituted the Tehsil Gandu, Tehsil Thathri, major part of Tehsil Doda in short whole of Bhalasa and left of river chanab from Thathri upto Batote. RELIGIOUS BELIEFS During the period when "Dugha Nagar" and Udho Nagar existed people used to prey before, Lord Brahma, Loard "Vishnu" and goddess Durga. At the later stage of the rule of these kind people were influenced by "Shive Mat". By coming of "Naga clans" its culture and civilization was effected by Nagacult. Even today all the three deities are workship and revered in Bhaderwah and Malas, Tertivals are celebrated in their honour. There is a Mata shitlas temple at Rahoushra about km from Bhaderwah, where pilgrims from Hamachal Bani, Bilawar, Dudu Basantgarh and Bhadarwah go to workship the diety and get her blessing. The biggest Mala is held on 8th of Autumn Novratras, in which thousands of people participate from all parts of Bhaderwah. In the month of May a Mala is held at Malni Kansar in honour of Mata Chandi. MACHAIL YATRA In the month of August a "Chhari" religious procession of "Chandi Mata" starts from Chinote Bhadarwah to Machail Paddar. In which thousand upon thousands of people participate. Subar Nag and Nagni Malas. On 12th April a grand Mala is held at Sabar Dhar in honour of Sabar Nag in which thousands of Bhadarwahis pay obeisance and on the next day i.e. 13th of April on Ist Basakhi again a very grand Mala of "Nagni Mata" is held at Manthla where thousand of people all around Bhaderwah pay obeisance, sing Bakti songs and dance in order to please Mata for their good crops and health. In short people of Bhaderwah are very God fearing and offer prayers in their houses and where ever there is a sign of any diety in the Jungles, caves, mountains etc. over and above the worship of above mentioned deities, Lord Shiva’s worship has great importance. Every year twice Manmahash "Yatra" starts from Bhaderwah and ends at Manmahash in Himachal Pardesh. This is a highly revered yatra and takes at least 25 days because devotees have to tried the whole journey on foot. These yatras mostly come in the month of August. At home in order to get the blessing of Lord Shiva, people perform ya/na in the form of Piyala, Bagni, Chanehk, Khadha etc. . As already said that Naga rulers ruled this valley for a pretty long time so Naga cult immensely effected the Bhaderwahi culture and civilization. People erected their temples on different names such as Vaski Nag temples at Gatha, Nagar, Nalthi, Bheja, Subar Nag temple at Subhar Dhar Mahal Nag in Bhalasa etc. etc. Every Nag diety has its own "Yatra" but Kailash yatra and Ashapati Yatra are very famous. BHADARWAHI CULTURE Bhadarwah has its own rich culture. It has itw own language called Bhadarwahi language. It has its own registered body called "Bhadarwahi Sanstha". The main feature of this language is that word ‘Ji" is used after every sentence. The Bhadarwahi people are very hospitable. They believe in "Atithi Devo Bhavti" (Guest is the messenger of God). Agriculture is the main occupation and that too on co-operative basis. They do all the agricultural activities jointly and while at work they sing and dance in the fields. They sing different songs for different activities. The main agriculture season here is from April to August and from August to October is a leisure time. In this period they celebrate different Malas called "Jatrain" This process starts from Raksha Bandan and ends on the full moon day of November. These ‘Jatrain’ are celebrated villagewise or in some case two/three village celebrate on same day separately. People invite their kith and kins, and friends to their residences. A delicious food is cooked in every house and a special dish called in Bhadarwahi (Chhloi) is cooked, which is eaten with honey and ghee. In this evening a ‘kud’ is celebrated in honour of the clan diety call "Kul-Devta". The whole process is executed under the guidance and direction of "Chailla". A bone fire is list and people dance around it through out night at the tune of local musical instruments called Dhol, Bansri, Nigara, Narsinga etc. Early in the morning they raise slogans in honour of the diety and ‘Chailla’ bare footed enters the red charcoals of the bonefire lit in the evening and baptizes the people and forecast the good or bad events of the area to come. These yatras and Malas continue for 2-3 months. These mala’s begin from Bhalasa and ends at Chinta area by celebrating "Malcha". Besides these Malas of Bhadarwah valley several Malas are held in honer of gods and goddesses on mountain and hills. In the month of August a Mala is celebrated at Dandasai in Rokali area in honour of Dandasan Mata in which people of Drab, Panchai, Chiralla and Bhlara participate. The most famous Bhadarwah’s Yatra is Kailash yatra. It is celebrated in honor of ‘Vaski Nag’. This comes in the month of August or September. Chharies from differ Vasuki temples start i.e. Gatha, Nagar, Nalthi, Shantan temple at Sartingal. Kalar Mandir and Dugan in Bani area. Thousand upon thousand people participate in these chharies they have a holy dip in the Vasuki lake. It takes them three days to perform this ritual. There are many other festivals which are celebrated during winter season. The main are the following:- 1. Dander Kundhu This festival is celebrated by the childred at the advent of spring season. 2. Kanchoth:- This is the most famous festival of married ladies. On this day they keep fast and during the day they make-up themselves with their best dresses and ornament and then they worship Lord Shiva for the long life of their husbands. They sing and dance to please the Lord Shiva. Thy sing a typical song called "Ghurahi" in Bhadarwahi language (A ballod) and dance in a circle. Hundreds of years back Sufism also spreaded in the area and there are many Ziarats in the area such as Ziarat at Bangla Nala, Munch Maror at Nagar (Takya Bazar) etc. where people of all costs, creed and faith pay their obeisance in order to fulfil their desired wishes. |
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Content and Photos Provided by Chief Executive Officer, Bhadarwah
Development Authority |