Gorkha Community in Himachal Pradesh Kicks Off Unique Diwali Celebrations

Traditional Diwali Festivities Begin Early in Bakloh

Subhash Mahajan
Bakloh, Chamba: The Gorkha community in the Bakloh region of Himachal Pradesh's Chamba district has initiated its five-day Diwali festivities two days prior to the main event. This celebration is deeply intertwined with Hindu traditions and cultural practices, featuring distinctive rituals, worship ceremonies, and communal gatherings.

The festivities kick off with Kag Tihar, a day dedicated to honoring crows, followed by Kukur Tihar, which pays tribute to dogs, regarded as the messengers of Yama, the deity of death. The celebrations then progress to the veneration of cows, which symbolize Goddess Lakshmi. Homes are meticulously cleaned, and courtyards are adorned with cow dung before lighting earthen lamps to invite prosperity.

On the evening of Lakshmi Puja, women and young girls from the Gorkha community visit homes, singing traditional Bhailo songs that convey blessings of peace, happiness, and prosperity. Families graciously welcome these groups, offering donations, sweets, puffed rice, and other gifts as tokens of appreciation.

The festivities continue with preparations for Bhai Tika, which takes place the day after Lakshmi Puja. During this time, groups of boys and girls perform traditional Deusi songs, visiting homes throughout the night. Their songs spread messages of health, harmony, prosperity, and brotherhood, while they receive blessings and festive contributions from the community.

Elders in the community have observed a gradual decline in interest among younger generations regarding these traditional practices. To safeguard their rich cultural heritage, various social and community organizations have begun organizing collective Deusi and Bhailo events in different locations, promoting youth involvement and ensuring the continuity of these age-old traditions.

The distinctive Diwali celebrations of the Gorkha community remain a vibrant showcase of cultural identity, religious devotion, and community unity in the hilly terrain of Chamba district.