SAIR
The chief harvest festival of people in the Kangra valley is observed on the first day of ASOJ(September). During the early hours of the morning of the day a barber goes with galgal fruit, turf, and lamp in the bamboo basket announcing the arrival of that auspicious day. Men, women and children bow to the fruit, which is considered an emblem of the fruits of the harvest about to be reaped and of the happy termination of the rainy season.
People offer coin, grains and walnuts. Afterwards, the offerings are taken by the barber, and the sair is placed near the source of a spring or water source (boli). There is a special repast in the afternoon, and the women songs. All members of the family meet that day. The women clad in their best and the best food cooked and partaken. This is a BARA DIN of Hill men and everybody tries to be among his family that day. It marks the departure of the rainy season and the people thank God for the rains having gone leaving their houses and crops undamaged.
An insect called TIDA or situ (grasshopper) skips about at that time of the year and chirps incessantly. The people say that it's peculiar sound is an announcement of the happy day. It's notes are said to mean, “Sair has come, Sair has come."
At other places like Shimla hills, barbers show mirrors to rich men, who give them rewards. Everyone makes an image from clay, puts flowers on it places it before his house. In the evening illumination are put up all round the image which is worshipped.
In Chamba this festival is called Sair ki Sankrant- the first day of ASOJ. The ceremony is held to mark the in gathering of autumn harvest. New grain in worshipped with the kimb or lemon. Sanj or sweet bread fried in ghee is made, and worshipped along with the new grains of the seasons. On this day shiva is believed to forsake his abode on the Kailash peak, near Brahmaur, and retire for the winter to the lower regions of the earth called Payalphur, where he remains till Shivaratri, come round in the month of Phalgun.
On the same day the Gaddi Shepherds in Pangi and Lahul begin their return journey towards the outer hills.
People offer coin, grains and walnuts. Afterwards, the offerings are taken by the barber, and the sair is placed near the source of a spring or water source (boli). There is a special repast in the afternoon, and the women songs. All members of the family meet that day. The women clad in their best and the best food cooked and partaken. This is a BARA DIN of Hill men and everybody tries to be among his family that day. It marks the departure of the rainy season and the people thank God for the rains having gone leaving their houses and crops undamaged.
An insect called TIDA or situ (grasshopper) skips about at that time of the year and chirps incessantly. The people say that it's peculiar sound is an announcement of the happy day. It's notes are said to mean, “Sair has come, Sair has come."
At other places like Shimla hills, barbers show mirrors to rich men, who give them rewards. Everyone makes an image from clay, puts flowers on it places it before his house. In the evening illumination are put up all round the image which is worshipped.
In Chamba this festival is called Sair ki Sankrant- the first day of ASOJ. The ceremony is held to mark the in gathering of autumn harvest. New grain in worshipped with the kimb or lemon. Sanj or sweet bread fried in ghee is made, and worshipped along with the new grains of the seasons. On this day shiva is believed to forsake his abode on the Kailash peak, near Brahmaur, and retire for the winter to the lower regions of the earth called Payalphur, where he remains till Shivaratri, come round in the month of Phalgun.
On the same day the Gaddi Shepherds in Pangi and Lahul begin their return journey towards the outer hills.
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