Khilla Festival....

Devotees waiting for the Deity to arrive.

The Khilla Festival at Shantha and Devat which lasts for 2 days is celebrated with gaiety and devotion. Each year, the celebration of this festival is held after the well-known Diwali. The previous time when I had to chance to see such a colorful festival was 18 years ago, so I planned to go there and as destination I chose Chopal. The first day of the festival begins with the veneration of the local deity at Devat. Gracefully dressed, the devotees come from many areas in large numbers to offer prayings. After taking the deity's blessings they celebrate. It has a great importance for the devotees, as they are given the chance to see the deity. In the evening, the deity is brought to the ground while devotees dance on traditional chants. The next step is a game played by two groups, called Badhan and Pandit, who have to pull out a stick which was dug in the ground the previous day and throw it in the air. Those who succeed in pulling out the stick become the winners and in the end of the game the deity is carried to the Shantha village. The next day, the festival ends in the Shatha village which gets crowded with devotees . In the evening, the deity is carried back to its temple in Devat. This festival is the symbol of celebration without distance, distinction and any other differences amongst the participants. It brings into the view the equality of people in front of the deity, immersed in devotion and adoring it with songs and dances.

Music plays an important role because it represents a serial of praises and demands raised to the deity and also the background for the dances. The dances show the feelings the devotees experience throughout this festival and the intensity of their emotions and feelings towards the colorful and intensively lived festival.

Deity Arrives

Devotees take a look at the Deity.

Temple At Devat.

Devotees Enjoying the festival.

Snowfall In Shimla

Whole of the Northern India has been experiencing temperature below freezing point. A thick blanket of snow has covered the district of Shimla in and around in the month of January. Life and daily routines got disturbed because of the heavy snowfall in Shimla region. All the major highways were closed due to the snowfall including NH-22. Nearby tourist places like Mall Road, Ridge, Fagu, Kufri, Narkanda have been covered under the white sheet of snow making the hill station more beautiful picturesque. On the first day of snowfall, whole scene was intensified by the snow's glare. I had been so eager for the moment to arrive but now that it was here. I slept a little, but I stayed awake looking out the darkened window. I woke up early and walked through the forest with the fog all but gone, the highest tree branches covered with snow were receiving the first rays of the sun. A view of snow-clad houses in Shimla was there after the snowfall. The snow was glistering and the glare hurt my eyes. Instead of avoiding the cold, I enjoyed what's best enjoyed in these winter months. It had been a long day and was a day of great peace and adventure.

   

Hotel Clarks.

Viceregal logde Shimla.

Himachal Pradesh State Liabrary.

   

                               Old men waiting for the bus and sharing  their views on Himachal Politics.

Kaali Temple, situated at the height of 5000 feet surrounded by the the dense forest in Chopal, 100 kms from Shimla(Himachal Pradesh). This temple is known for mysteries and people this temple in all seasons. When I reached at this place, I looked around at the interior of the temple- the worn stones, fallen and replaced. I got to know that my ancestors had worked in building this beautiful temple. What had caused them to work so hard at building this temple in such a remote spot, hidden in the dense forest is still answerable.

DEVOTEES WELCOME LORD GANESHA WITH PUJA AND FESTIVALS.

   Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated as the birthday of Lord Ganesha, the God of wisdom. Ganesh Chaturthi, which falls around August or September. The occasion becomes very lively and enthusiastic with the devotional songs, dances and drum beats being a part of the procession observed by the devotees of Lord Ganesha, as a part of the festivities. Ganesh Chaturthi is the only festival that involves and welcomes the participation of general public. I was the part of this festival for the first time, saw rituals being held in the temple. Songs were recited, accompanied by sound of the musical instruments. The devotees danced to the tune of the tradational drums and sang Lord Ganesha. On this ocacasion, bhajans are sung either by a professional troupe of musicians or by the devotees themselves. After celebration, the time of farewell comes and the idol of the beloved God is immersed in water. The celebration ends with the immersion, accompanied by loud shouts of 'Ganapati Bappa Moraya'.

PANDIT PERFORMING RITUALS.

DEVOTEE  PLAYING DRUMS ON THE OCCASION OF GANESH CHATURTHI.

DEVOTEE OFFERING PRAYER ON THE HOLY OCCASION OF GANESH CHATURTHI.

WOMAN DEVOTEE PLAYING DRUM.

PANDIT PERFORMING RITUAL 

PLAYING DRUMS DURING AT AN EVENING PRAYER.

DEVOTEES DANCING TO THE TUNE OF THE TRADITIONAL DRUMS

WINTERS, SHIMLA

SNOWFALL ON 31ST DECEMBER