Saampu Nriya Geet : Devotion to Nagela Deity

Folk Literature and Culture of Kumaun – Garhwal Himalayas

Saampu Nriya Geet : Devotion to Nagela Deity

साम्पू नृत्य गीत : नगेलो देवता को समर्पित नृत्य गीत

Bhishma Kukreti

There is less doubt that prior to Khas dynasty took over Garhwal and Kumaun, there were Nag inhabitants in both the areas. Nag vanshi dynasty were before Vedas too and there is mention of Nag vansh in Rig-Veda and Atharv-Veda ( A.B Keith and Dr Bhagvat Sharan Upadhyaya ) . There are many characters of nag Vansh in Mahabharat and there is mention of serpant castes or division in Mahbharat. Puran etc also describe Nag vansh

As far as Garhwal Kumaun is concerned, it seems that Khas dominated over Nag of the area and changed the culture

Serpent is part and partial of Indian people and that is the reason , there many deities related to Nag . In Kumaun and Garhwal if we study village’s old temples or Math we may find instead of Idols there are Snake iron sculptures inside the temples . the reason is valid that Garhwalis , Kumaonis and Nepalese worshiped Nag deity from the beginning of civilization in the area

Snake is not only worshiped in India but in other parts too and there is worship and dance for snake worship in many parts of world . Hopi people of North America performed the annual snake dance , Fijians worship snake god asNdengei; in Egyptian mythology there are many snake gods and even- Apep is evil god; in east Asia, Dragon is nothing but derived god from serpent ; in Hittite mythology , the name of snake god is Illuyanka ; Bobbi-Bobbi is the huge snake god of BinBinga tribe of North Australia ; Tefnut is snake goddess for moisture of ancient Egyptians ; in very ancient age in Africa, the snake god was Dahaomy and there is snake god in Nordic civilization too

There is snake dance or serpent dance or sarp nrity in many parts of world as in Africa, and in Asia;; there used to be in culture of Native American and in Maya culture too .

Same way, Garhwalis and Kumaonis worship Snake god in the names of Nagraja and Nagelo . nagelo is the god of fame, prosperity, success and fertility. The worship method is Ghadela but in many parts there is dance and song for nagelo in normal time too. The following song is sung and danced in Lasya Patti of Tihri and Uttarkashi regions . there are amny varieties of dance and all dances are nearer to Snake dance in groups

The song itself narrates the story of place and two gods- Nagelo and Pitaseen too :

द्यूळ नागेलो नाचलो बल द्यूळ नागेलो

पिटासीणि का धोरा, बल नाचलो द्यूळ नागेलो नाचलो

लस्या थाती का बिच , बल नाचलो द्यूळ नागेलो नाचलो

भौकारों का रुणाट , बल नाचलो द्यूळ नागेलो नाचलो

पायाल़ा ल़ेण नाचलो , बल नाचलो द्यूळ नागेलो नाचलो

ढोलूं का दौर नाचलो, बल नाचलो द्यूळ नागेलो नाचलो

लून्गालों का पैल नाचलो , बल नाचलो द्यूळ नागेलो नाचलो

साठी फसल काटण नाचलो , बल नाचलो द्यूळ नागेलो नाचलो

भैन्स्यों का बैराट बल देखलो , नाचलो द्यूळ नागेलो नाचलो

पअयाग बल नाचलो द्यूळ नागेलो नाचलो जाणो नाचलो ,

स्युंरता की रात नाचलो , बल नाचलो द्यूळ नागेलो नाचलो

बजरा की थाती नाचलो, बल नाचलो द्यूळ नागेलो नाचलो

औतुं पुतर देलू, बल नाचलो द्यूळ नागेलो नाचलो

Ref: manuscript from Dr Purushottam Dobhal and edited by Dr Shiva Nand Nautiyal

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