Mask festival Fagli celebrated with fervour in Tirthan valley
Dipender Manta
Mandi, February 16
The three-day Fagli festival was celebrated with traditional fervour in various areas, including the Tirthan valley in Banjar subdivision of Kullu district, today. The mask festival is being celebrated in Tinder, Pekhari, Nahin, Dingcha, Sarchi, Faryadi, Garuli and Kalwari villages of the Tirthan valley, besides Thani-Chaida, Deutha, Veeni, Jibhi, Bahu and Behlo villages of the Banjar area since February 13.
Prayers offered for timely rain, good harvest, prosperity
- Local people and Madayales (those wearing masks) worship Lord Vishnu and pray for timely rain, good harvest and happiness and prosperity throughout the year.
- On the first day, Chhoti Fagli is celebrated and dance and parikrama are performed only in a limited area.
- On the second day, Baddi Fagli is organised in which Madayales wearing masks enter every house of the village to bless people.
- During this time, many other traditional customs are also performed and many traditional dishes are prepared in every house of the village
Paras Bharti, a resident of the Tirthan valley, said that festivals celebrated in the valley attracted domestic and foreign tourists every year. This time, tourists, men, and women from other states, besides local children also participated in the festival enthusiastically. Some tourists were seen capturing the mask dance in their cameras.
Bharti said, “In the mask festival, male members of various families of every village in the Tirthan valley wore special ancient wooden masks and clothes. A variety of masks and costumes are worn in every village. Besides, the beliefs and the celebration of the festival are also different in various villages.”
He added, “During the Fagli festival, Madayales (those wearing masks) walk around every house and village playing musical instruments for two days. At some places, it is prohibited to see women dancing because obscene songs are played and obscene acts are enacted, as per the tradition.”
Mahesh Sharma, another villager, said that festivals were also prompting tourists to visit the Great Himalayan National Park and the Tirthan valley, which is famous for trout fish. “The oldest traditions and culture of this place are its identity. Many fairs and religious festivals are organised in the Tirthan valley every year, which clearly reflects the cultural richness of this place. These fairs and festivals are a symbol of joy and happiness. It is through fairs and festivals that mutual relations between people are strengthened. In some villages of the Tirthan valley, the Fagli festival is celebrated with pomp and show for a day while in many villages for three to four days,” said Sharma.
“It is believed that by wearing wooden masks and special costumes demonic powers are driven away from the village ,” he added.
