Hello Questers,

Today I want to share with you some interesting facts and stories about a festival that is celebrated in Uttarakhand on the occasion of Makar Sankranti. It is called "uttrani makrani ghughuti tyohar" or simply "ghughutiya" in the local language. It is a festival that welcomes the sun's movement from south to north, and the return of migratory birds to the hills. It is also a festival that honors the crows, who are believed to have saved a child from a snake bite in a folk tale. Let me tell you more about this festival and how it is celebrated.

The Meaning and Significance of the Festival

The festival is celebrated on the day of Makar Sankranti, which is the day when the sun enters the zodiac sign of Capricorn from the zodiac sign of Cancer. This marks the end of the winter solstice and the beginning of the summer solstice. It also signifies a change of season and a new harvest. The festival is also known as Uttarayani, which means the sun's movement to the north. It is said that from this day, the migratory birds start returning to the hills after their winter sojourn in the plains. The festival is considered auspicious and a time to perform charity, take holy dips, and participate in fairs.

The Uttarayani Fair of Bageshwar

One of the main attractions of the festival is the Uttarayani fair of Bageshwar, which is held every year with huge fanfare. The fair attracts people from different regions and communities, who come to trade, worship, and enjoy the cultural programs. The fair is held on the banks of the Saryu river, which is considered sacred and a place to take a ceremonial dip. The fair also showcases the rich and diverse culture of Uttarakhand, with folk songs, dances, and performances. The fair is a great opportunity to witness the colorful and vibrant life of the people of Uttarakhand.

The Ghughutia or Kale Kauva Tradition

Another unique and fascinating tradition of the festival is the Ghughutia or Kale Kauva (black crow) tradition, which is celebrated by the children. The children make "ghughuti" (flour and jaggery) and deep fried in ghee, and shape them like drums, pomegranates, knives, swords, etc. They string them together and wear them as necklaces. They also make a special dish called khichadi, which is a mixture of rice and pulses, and offer it to the crows and other birds.

The next morning, the children wear these necklaces and sing "Kale Kauva.." to attract the crows and other birds, and offer them portions of these necklaces, as a token of welcome and gratitude. They also ask the crows to give them gold, silver, or other gifts in exchange for the sweetmeats. The children believe that the crows will bring them good luck and prosperity.

There is a folk tale behind this tradition, which says that once a crow saved a child from a snake bite by bringing a medicinal herb. The child's mother was so grateful that she made sweetmeats for the crow and asked him to come every year on this day. The crow agreed and since then, he visits the children every year and brings them gifts.

I hope you enjoyed reading this thread and learned something new about this festival. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to share them with me. Follow for more. 

Thank you for reading and happy Makar Sankranti to you all! 🙏

Signing off

@Tarun Negi