Fagli fest celebrated with fervour

Mandi, February 12

Fagli festival was celebrated with fervour in the tribal district of Lahaul and Spiti yesterday. This is a New Year festival preceding the beginning of Tibetan or Chinese calendar and is celebrated to mark the end of winter or the beginning of spring. It is celebrated in February in the entire valley on the moonless night or Amavasya.

Mohan Lal Relingpa, a resident of Lahaul, said that this festival is locally known as Kus or Kuns and is the most significant festival in Pattan valley. The people celebrate it with traditional fervour every year.

Kunga Bodh, a member of the Lahaul and Spiti zila parishad, told The Tribune, “To mark the festivity about a two-foot bamboo stick is fixed on the floor and a white bed sheet is draped around it to signify an angel dressed in white. The figure called Baraza is embellished with jewellery and marigold flowers. The delicacies are placed before it, the incense is burnt, oil lamps are lit and the house is fully decorated.”

“As per ritual, the family heads get up early in the morning and prepare totu or a dough of roasted barley flour and buttermilk. Totu is offered to the deities on the rooftop and then distributed among the family members as god’s offerings,” he added.

Lahaul and Spiti MLA Ravi Thakur also congratulated the people of the district on this occasion. He said festivals play a crucial role to protect our culture and tradition and it also brings the local community together.