THE MASKING TRADITION IN TRIBAL INDIA AND HIMALAYA no 2
Each society lives in the present but its roots are in the past and through the tradition the past is connected with the present.
Masks of the
UTTARARAKHAND
A LIVING TRADITION
Chapter Two
(A)
Bikhoti (बिखोती)
Bhotiya Ritual Dance Mask Festival of Lata village
Bikhoti (बिखोती) Festival – Lata Village – Photo Credit of Mountain Shepherds
&
(B)
Sitoon Festival of Lata Village
Photo Credit of Vijay Butola
Enactment of Lord Rama’s exile for 14 years
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An Explicated Iconography
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(A)
The Village of Lata is the gateway to the Nanda Devi National Park in the Chamoli District , Uttarakhand
This festival – locally referred to as Bikhoti (बिखोती) is celebrated annually in the month of Baisakh in the village of Lata.
Nanda Devi Temple – Cartridge sheet Graphite – sketch by Dev Bharti Dehradun
The term is analogous to a similar one, that refer to a post harvest festival celebrated every year in the month of April in India called Vaisakhi but also known as Baisakhi, Vaishakhi or Vasakhi.
Bikhoti (बिखोती) Festival – Lata Village – Photo Credit of Mountain Shepherds
Bikhoti festivals are held in several villages of the Malla Painkhanda Chamoli region; in Saloor Dungra (Chapter III) the Baisakhi is dedicated to the patron deity of the village Bhumyal Devta and celebrated as Ramman festival; while in Baragaon, Subhain and Suki village the festival is still held annually, despite the loss of the oldest traditional materials.
It should be emphasized that up to 2005 it was totally forbidden to document this festival with cameras, now with the spread of technology and mobile phones, similarly to other areas of the Himalayan region – the images of these traditional festivals are starting to spread – providing a lot of information about these centuries-old cultural traditions – totally unknown until a few years ago in their details.
in which the households present buck wheat to the Goddess Nanda Devi
Bikhoti (बिखोती) Festival – Lata Village – Photo Credit of Mountain Shepherds
The Lata’s festival is a 10 days ritual ceremony that represents the indigenous version of the genesis of the cosmos through the masked dance theater – a non stop performance and various episodes performed with different masks – it begins by bringing the goddess Nanda Devi to the center of the village.
Polychromatic in the crown section – this Ganesh mask – is characterized by the dark color of the facial part.
The stylistic rendering of the trunk balanced with respect to the rest of the elements of the face – is a typical and distinctive feature of the masks of the area.
Note how the vivid yellow & red colors of the crown are combined with the similar color scheme of the dancer’s costume.
Sindur and white rice – are used as ritual decoration of the forehead (sindur) and face characters (rice)
Large dark mask decorated with polychrome color – sindur and white rice – used as ritual decoration of the forehead (sindur) face characters and crown (rice)
Bikhoti (बिखोती) Festival – Lata Village – Photo Credit of Mountain Shepherds
Latu and Laati entertain the audience – they are a couple, and the dog in the play represents their child –
Latu Mask –
Mask of Latu – wood with natural patina and traces of light (white ) color and sindor on the forehead – it’s characterized by prominent and well balanced frontal masses. The stylistic rendering of the eyes is interesting – typical of more classical and elaborate materials of the Himalayan region.
Laati Mask
Laati’s mask – dark patinated wood with traces of sacrificial materials on the forehead – it’s characterized by an archaic naturalistic style and well-balanced masses of the face. Part of a similar group of masks used during the festival.
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– मोर Peacock Episode –
Bikhoti (बिखोती) Festival – Lata Village – Photo Credit of Mountain Shepherds
Flat mask in natural patinated wood – the sculpted features of the face are outlined in light (white) color. The stylistic rendering of the mask is well balanced and symmetrical
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-Feline Mask-
Bikhoti (बिखोती) Festival – Lata Village – Photo Credit of Mountain Shepherds
Zoomorphic feline mask – naturalistic rendering – natural patinated wood – decorated with sindur and rice (in the eye globes – photo above).
Bikhoti (बिखोती) Festival – Lata Village – Photo Credit of Mountain Shepherds
The episode of Narad Rishi is related to the genesis or how the world was formed.
Mask crowned in wood with a dark chromatic base – the details of the face are accentuated by the ritual use of rice (white) which stands out in contrast to the dark background.
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The method of fixing the masks to the face – facilitated by bandages and ropes housed in the holes on the mask – it’s also characterized by an additional support bandage at the base of the chin of almost all the masks reproduced in this article.
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(B)
Sitoon Festival
Eenactment of Lord Rama’s exile
for 14 years
Photo Credit of Vijay Butola
Every 14 years
in the Lata village is performed the reenactment of Rama’s Vanvaas by creating wooden idols that are put in a cave to symbolize Vanvaas.
Photo Credit of Vijay Butola
Traditional Bhotiya ritual dance during the Sitoon festival at Lata
Photo Credit of Vijay Butola
Note the extremely minimal and archaic character of these sculptures – materials of this kind – once (if) decontextualized can be attributed to different cultural areas and totally wrong meanings.
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Chapter III
Saloor Dungra Village Ramman Festival
रम्माण :- विरासत उत्तराखंड की
Painkhanda Valley – Chamoli district –
Uttarakhand India
Coming Soon
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Chapter One –
Hill Jatra Masks in Pithoragarh
An extensive documentation relating to the different masked characters of the festival – with explanations on the iconographies and comparisons with similar materials from the Himalayan region.
HillJatra Mask’s character Lakhiabhoot Lakhiya Gost Character – लखिया भूत & Indra Jatra Mask’s characher Majipa Lakhey – Majipa Lakhey is a special lakhey in Nepalese folklore, also known as the Peaceful Bhairava (शान्त भैरव) – it’s dance takes place only in the week of the full moon of the month of Yenlaa of the Nepal Sambat calendar.
Photo Credit of Rohit Maharjan Lakhiyabhut (on the right) Photo credit (on the left) Updating in progress
Pithoragarh is an Himalayan town in the Municipal Board of the Pithoragarh district – Kumaoni area – a region that spans on the north by Tibet, on the east by Nepal , on the south by the Uttar Pradesh, and on the west by the Garwal area.
पिथौरागढ़ पिथौरागढ़ जिले के नगर बोर्ड में एक हिमालयी शहर है – कुमाऊँनी क्षेत्र – एक ऐसा क्षेत्र जो उत्तर में तिब्बत, पूर्व में नेपाल, दक्षिण में उत्तर प्रदेश और पश्चिम में गढ़वाल क्षेत्र तक फैला है।
The people of Kumaon are known as Kumaonis and speak the Kumaoni language.
कुमाऊँ के लोग कुमाऊँनी के नाम से जाने जाते हैं और कुमाऊँनी भाषा बोलते हैं।
The masks used in the HillJatra ( Mukhota – Masks making ) cultural festival context of Pithoragarh are traditionally carved out from the wood of the local Kheri tree – a plant that contains poisonous white sap and that must be handled for this reason with care, following techniques that have been passed down for generations.
पिथौरागढ़ के पहाड़ी जात्रा (मुखोटा-मास्क बनाने) सांस्कृतिक त्योहार के संदर्भ में उपयोग किए जाने वाले मुखौटे पारंपरिक रूप से स्थानीय खीरी के पेड़ की लकड़ी से उकेरे गए हैं – एक पौधा जिसमें जहरीला सफेद रस होता है और जिसे इस कारण से देखभाल के साथ संभाला जाना चाहिए, निम्नलिखित तकनीकें जो पीढ़ियों से चली आ रही है।
Ropai – the plantation of Paddy – रोपई – धान की खेती
Organized in various forms in the Tire Valley of Kumaon this traditional masked festival celebrates the peasant epic of the area, whose central theme is the activity of the farmers that, immersed in the mud, work in the fields to transplant the rice fields in the rainy season.
कुमाऊं की सोर घाटी में विभिन्न रूपों में आयोजित यह पारंपरिक नकाबपोश त्योहार क्षेत्र के किसान महाकाव्य का जश्न मनाता है, जिसका केंद्रीय विषय किसानों की गतिविधि है, जो कीचड़ में डूबे हुए, बारिश में चावल के खेतों में रोपाई के लिए खेतों में काम करते हैं। मौसम।
HillJatra is celebrated in Bhado, a month in Hindu calendar that corresponds to the months of August & September.
हिलजात्रा भादो में मनाया जाता है, जो हिंदू कैलेंडर में एक महीना है जो अगस्त और सितंबर के महीनों से मेल खाता है।
This festival – may have been originated in the Mahakali region of Western Nepal – and therefore introduced in the neighboring area under consideration (with some changes that may vary from village to village).
यह त्यौहार – पश्चिमी नेपाल के महाकाली क्षेत्र में उत्पन्न हुआ हो सकता है – और इसलिए पड़ोसी क्षेत्र में विचाराधीन (कुछ बदलावों के साथ जो गांव से गांव में भिन्न हो सकते हैं) में पेश किया गया है।
In Nepal it is known as Indra Jatra.
नेपाल में इसे इंद्र जात्रा के नाम से जाना जाता है।
A legend has it that King Kuru of the Khand dynasty once went to Sorar in Nepal to participate in the Hilljatra Festival by sacrificing a buffalo. This made the people happy who bestowed gifts on the king. King Kuru then decided to introduce the festival to the Sor Valley and asked for four masks: Halwaha, two oxen, and Lakhiabhoot. Hence the festival was introduced to the state of Uttarakhand.
एक किंवदंती है कि खंड वंश के राजा कुरु एक बार भैंस की बलि देकर हिलजात्रा महोत्सव में भाग लेने के लिए नेपाल के सोरार गए थे। इससे प्रजा प्रसन्न हो गई जिन्होंने राजा को उपहार दिए। राजा कुरु ने तब त्योहार को सोर घाटी में पेश करने का फैसला किया और चार मुखौटे मांगे: हलवाहा, दो बैल और लखियाभूत। इसलिए त्योहार को उत्तराखंड राज्य में पेश किया गया था।
Hill = mud – Jatra / Jaat = form of popular theater
पहाड़ी = कीचड़ – जात्रा / जाट = लोकप्रिय रंगमंच का रूप
From an etymological point of view it is interesting to note how in the local dialect the term “Hildar” means heavy rain- “Hil” means flood or muddy water; “Hill” may also have its roots in the Nepali language where “Hil” means soil and “Hilo” means mud.
व्युत्पत्ति की दृष्टि से यह ध्यान रखना दिलचस्प है कि कैसे स्थानीय बोली में “हिल्दार” शब्द का अर्थ भारी वर्षा होता है- “हिल” का अर्थ बाढ़ या गंदा पानी होता है; “पहाड़ी” की जड़ें नेपाली भाषा में भी हो सकती हैं जहाँ “हिल” का अर्थ मिट्टी और “हिलो” का अर्थ मिट्टी होता है।
“Hill” could stand so for the soil of the field mixed with water (mud) to symbolize the preparation of agricultural field for sowing seeds and plants.
“पहाड़ी” पानी (कीचड़) के साथ मिश्रित खेत की मिट्टी के लिए खड़ा हो सकता है ताकि बीज और पौधों की बुवाई के लिए कृषि क्षेत्र की तैयारी का प्रतीक हो।
The term “Jatara” is not a local term – although “Jaat” is term used to represent religious processions. The term “Jatara” could also be of Bengali origin (it’s just an hypothesis). , where “Jatra” (spelled Jaatra) represents a form of popular theater – the term could be arrived in this area through migrations.
शब्द “जतरा” एक स्थानीय शब्द नहीं है – हालांकि “जाट” शब्द का प्रयोग धार्मिक जुलूसों का प्रतिनिधित्व करने के लिए किया जाता है। शब्द “जतारा” बंगाली मूल का भी हो सकता है (यह सिर्फ एक परिकल्पना है)। , जहां “जात्रा” (वर्तनी जात्रा) लोकप्रिय रंगमंच के एक रूप का प्रतिनिधित्व करता है – इस क्षेत्र में प्रवास के माध्यम से इस शब्द का आगमन हो सकता है।
In summary – the representation of local rural life through the presence of different masks is the main element of this festival.
संक्षेप में – विभिन्न मुखौटों की उपस्थिति के माध्यम से स्थानीय ग्रामीण जीवन का प्रतिनिधित्व इस त्योहार का मुख्य तत्व है।
– Characters मास्क –
Among the various characters there are always one or more pairs of oxen (with relative cowbells) pulled by a male figure (the oxen are generally used in real life for the preparation of the fields before the transplantation of the rice plants).
विभिन्न एमएसके के बीच हमेशा एक या एक से अधिक जोड़े बैल (सापेक्ष गायों के साथ) एक पुरुष आकृति द्वारा खींचे जाते हैं (चावल के पौधों के प्रत्यारोपण से पहले खेतों की तैयारी के लिए आम तौर पर बैलों का उपयोग वास्तविक जीवन में किया जाता है)।
भुरमुनी हिलजात्रा – एक पुरुष आकृति द्वारा खींचे गए बैलों की एक जोड़ी
Bajeti Hilljatra – oxen and male figures – with the bodies decorated with Kamet – white clay –
बजती हिलजात्रा – बैलों और नर आकृतियों – कामेट से सजाए गए शवों के साथ – सफेद मिट्टी –
Young girls planting rice (Ropai), male figure with chillam narghilè , shepherd, farmer, fishermen figures of buffoons; also present among the characters some zoomorphic masks of animals – such as horse, goat, deer.
चावल (रोपाई) रोपती युवा लड़कियां, चिलम नरघिले के साथ नर आकृति, चरवाहा, किसान, भैंसों के मछुआरे; पात्रों के बीच जानवरों के कुछ जूमॉर्फिक मुखौटे भी मौजूद हैं – जैसे कि घोड़ा, बकरी, हिरण।
The bodies of the characters are sometimes decorated with the white clay -” kamet” .
मुखौटों के शरीर को कभी-कभी सफेद मिट्टी से सजाया जाता है – “कामेट”।
As already mentioned there can be different versions of this festival – in some villages the main character is Lakhiabhoot – Lakhija Ghost लखिया भूत, tied on ropes and controlled by two characters in special costumes – it tries to destroy the transplants that are done in the fields, while the peasants search to reassure him by offering Akshat (uncooked un-broken pieces of rice which is mixed with turmeric).
जैसा कि पहले ही उल्लेख किया गया है कि इस त्योहार के विभिन्न संस्करण हो सकते हैं – कुछ गांवों में मुख्य पात्र लखियाभूत है – लखीजा भूत लखिया भूत, रस्सियों पर बंधा हुआ और विशेष वेशभूषा में दो पात्रों द्वारा नियंत्रित – यह खेतों में किए गए प्रत्यारोपण को नष्ट करने की कोशिश करता है , जबकि किसान अक्षत (हल्दी के साथ मिश्रित चावल के बिना पके हुए बिना टूटे हुए टुकड़े) चढ़ाकर उसे आश्वस्त करने के लिए खोज करते हैं।
Lakhiyabhut – Lakhiya Gost Character – लखिया भूत – HillJatra
Finally, satisfied with the offerings and worship bestowed upon him, Lakhiyabhut calms down, and blesses all present wishing them a good harvest and a happy life.
अंत में, प्रसाद और पूजा से संतुष्ट होकर, लखियाभूत शांत हो जाते हैं, और सभी उपस्थित लोगों को अच्छी फसल और सुखी जीवन की कामना करते हैं।
Hiran (deer) Chital – हिरण चीतल
In other villages, instead of Lakhiabhut, the deer Chittal is the protagonist
अन्य गांवों में लखियाभूत के बजाय, हिरण चित्तल नायक है
From an iconographic point of view, the Lakhiabhut – Lakhiya Gost Character – लखिया भूत mask
presents some points of contact with several masks of the Indian and Himalayan tradition, although its wavy oval – characterized by an accentuated chin – the dark background color – which enhances the details of the face with white – red – gold colors- makes this complex mask, unique in its kind
For a visual comparison it can be seen this composition in which are included masks from Nepal (2,3,4,6,10,12) West Bengal – Rajasthan (1,5,9), Uttarakhand – an ‘horned’ sample of Lakhiabhut mask (7) , Karnataka (11,13)
Also for other characters, a characterizing element of this type of masks – used in the contexts of Bhurmuni and Bajeti HillJatra is the presence of a pronounced chin and of a dark colored background. Generally these are well balanced masks with a symmetrical style – but with some exceptions (see the mask on the left).
Group of symmetric masks used for the HillJatra area of Kumor – a pronounced chin and a dark monochrome background are also confirmed in these. Some iconographic elements present in the masks of Garwal and also of Himachal Pradesh can be found.
The method of fixing the masks to the face – similar to that used in neighboring areas – is facilitated by bandages and ropes housed in the holes on the mask.
Dark monochrome – glossy industrial color – stylized crown obtained with a gold color – as for the edge of the eyes – stylized ears obtained with a red color.
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Extracts from our Photo Archives Collection
हमारे फोटो संग्रह संग्रह से उद्धरण
A rare old symmetric Large old Dark Hill Jatra mask , with a pronounced chin, is presented below from our photo archives collection.
एक दुर्लभ पुराना सममित बड़ा पुराना डार्क हिल जात्रा मुखौटा, एक स्पष्ट ठोड़ी के साथ, हमारे फोटो संग्रह संग्रह से नीचे प्रस्तुत किया गया है।
Note the interesting decoration of the ‘headdress’, which with different iconographies is also present in some of the more modern masks (published above).
‘हेडड्रेस’ की दिलचस्प सजावट पर ध्यान दें, जो विभिन्न प्रतिमाओं के साथ कुछ अधिक आधुनिक मुखौटों (ऊपर प्रकाशित) में भी मौजूद है।
ETHNOFLORENCE INDIAN AND HIMALAYAN FOLK AND TRIBAL ARTS 
