Invoking legends of king, queen for Diwali

Kuldeep Chauhan

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Tribune News Service

Shimla, November 10

The folklore of “Dudma Rani and Lord Bhukroo”, dating back to several centuries, will come alive at the twin hamlets of Shantha-Bateuri, located in the interiors of Chopal in Shimla district, on the third day of Diwali.

Bhaat, the local Brahmins of Bateuri and Bhadhaan, Rajputs of Shantha, who trace their lineage to Panshi (Pandavas), enter into a rare war over a sacred stick, called “Khila”, which is implanted on a sacred mount at the village top. The barefoot valiant “warriors”, struggle for pulling out the foot-long stick in their bid to snatch it

In Shantha village, remembered as Hastinapur, the legendary capital of the Pandvas, Diwali is celebrated as Jagra that lasts for four days in which villagers invoke the legends of their folk king Bhukroo and his consort Dudma Rani, whose history still remains a challenge to the state’s historians.

The lord of the land, “Kulla”, believed to be the avtar of Bhukroo and Kul Devi (Thaur), also participates after he is invoked by the Gurs (man in trance) in a series of oracle sessions. On the Diwali night, Bhaddan are the guests to Bhaats of Bateuri, while on the third day, Bhaats come as guests to Shantha.

The main attraction that makes Diwali different is the sport of Khila-Bharaach between the Badhaans and the Bhaats. The venue is a sacred top in Bateuri.A procession of Kulla devta starts from the temple for the sport on the third day of Diwali amid slogans and songs and dancing and swaying with devta palanquin to beats of dhols and shehnai.

The devta’s rath infuses its power in the stick of a sacred shrub that once was believed to be used by Lord Rama, while making a bid on Lanka of Ravana. The stick is enough to accommodate four grips of hands so that one each from both opposing sides can take charge to finally snatch it to its side.

The battling rivals go rolling down the hillside without bothering the thorny bushes and boulders till a champion emerges at the end, snatching the Khila, which is supposed to be tossed up in the air by the winner in full public view.

The winner is blessed by the lord. The ceremony is followed by a treat at Shantha where Devi acts as host to the Devta and the night long Jagra is celebrated invoking the legend of Lord Bhukroo and Dudma Rani. The next day, the devta rath goes back to the temple treasury at Bateuri.

War over sacred stick 

Bhaat, the local Brahmins of Bateuri and Bhadhaan and Rajputs of Shantha, who trace their lineage to Panshi (Pandavas), enter into a rare war over a sacred stick called Khila, which is implanted on a mount at the village top. The barefoot valiant “warriors” struggle for pulling out the foot-long stick in their bid to snatch it