Ghantakarn or Ghandyal Divta: The powerful deity for prosperity

[Notes on Garhwali culture and religion; Kumauni culture and religion; culture and religion of Uttarakhand; culture and religion of Hardwar; culture and religion of Dehradun, Uttarakhand; culture and religion of Jaunsar Uttarakhand; culture and religion of Ravain, Uttarakhand; culture and religion of Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand; culture and religion of Gangotri-Yamnotri , Uttarakhand; culture and religion of Tihri Garhwal, Uttarakhand; culture and religion of Pauri Garhwal,Uttarakhand; culture and religion of Udham Singh Nagar, Uttarakhand; culture and religion of Haldwani, Uttarakhand; culture and religion of Ranikhet, Uttarakhand; culture and religion of Nainital, Uttarakhand; culture and religion of Almora, Uttarakhand; culture and religion of Bageshwar, Uttarakhand; culture and religion of Champawat, Uttarakhand; culture and religion of Dwarhat, Uttarakhand; culture and religion of Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand; culture and religion of Uttarakhand, Mid Himalaya; culture and religion of Uttarakhand, Himalaya; culture and religion of Uttarakhand, India; culture and religion of Uttarakhand, Asia; Oriental culture and religion of Uttarakhand] 

Bhishma Kukreti

Ghantakarn or Ghandyal deity is famous deity of Garhwal. The deity Ghandyal or Ghantakarn is very powerful and prosperity provider. There are temples of Ghantkarn or Ghandyal in Garhwali villages. There is Ghantakarn temple in Badrinath. The place ‘Dev dekhani or Dev Darshani is atemple of Ghantakarn or Ghandyal. Before worshiping Badrinath shri, the devotees worship Ghandyal or Ghantakarn deity.

In the Doodhatoli shrine, there is a village Bhamsar (there is government horticulture garden). In this horticulture park, there is very beautiful temple of Ghandyal or Ghantkarn just near to Panjikkhal. This deity Ghatkarn or Ghandyal is also the Khetrpal deity of Bali Kandarsyun, Kandarsyun, Chopdakot and Dhaijyuli Pattis. Ghantkarn is family deity of Kaproli village (Chopdakot) and Ghulet village (Bali Kandarsyun). There is tour of Ghandyal divta (Jat) as there is tour of Raj Rajeshwari Nanda Devi. The village people of this region take flags (Dhwaj or Nisan) to all villages in the Ghandyal tour (jat). There are figures of flag, colorful flags,coconiut, various figures, and ornaments on the main Dhwaj. The hight of Dhwaj varies from twenty one feet to fifty one feet. At the top of flag or Dhwaj, there is Chanvar.

The deity Ghandyal is famous for blessing (parchari divta) to devotees with ease. The deity Ghandyal or Ghantakarn is the deity of protecting to the region. That is why all the people of the said region participate in the Ghandyal Jat and provide gifts for the deity. The people with Dhwaj go to each village and sing the song of Ghandyal. The Pashwa dances with the Jat and blesses to people on behalf of deity Ghandyal.

The Ghandyal jat or Deity March is celebrated for a month. On the last day, the people dance and sing whole night. People provide gifts to deity. There are jagars of Ghandyal divta or Ghantakarn deity .

The Ghandyal divta is prior to Kantyura era and it means the deity was worshipped at the time of Khas era and Kanait era (before 3000 years back). There is full mention of Yaksh deity in mahabharat and Harivansh Puran.

In every deity worshipping, the Jagri first worships or calls the Khestrapal or Ghantkarn. Historian Dr. Dabral mentions that in past, in most of the village, villagers used to have Ghadyal temple (symbolic) on top of village hill to protect them.

Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti, 26/12/2012

References: books of Dr Shiva nand Nautiyal and Dr Shiv Prasad Dabral

Commentary on Garhwali culture and religion; Kumauni culture and religion; culture and religion of Uttarakhand; culture and religion of Hardwar; culture and religion of Dehradun, Uttarakhand; culture and religion of Jaunsar Uttarakhand; culture and religion of Ravain, Uttarakhand; culture and religion of Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand; culture and religion of Gangotri-Yamnotri , Uttarakhand; culture and religion of Tihri Garhwal, Uttarakhand; culture and religion of Pauri Garhwal,Uttarakhand; culture and religion of Udham Singh Nagar, Uttarakhand; culture and religion of Haldwani, Uttarakhand; culture and religion of Ranikhet, Uttarakhand; culture and religion of Nainital, Uttarakhand; culture and religion of Almora, Uttarakhand; culture and religion of Bageshwar, Uttarakhand; culture and religion of Champawat, Uttarakhand; culture and religion of Dwarhat, Uttarakhand; culture and religion of Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand; culture and religion of Uttarakhand, Mid Himalaya; culture and religion of Uttarakhand, Himalaya; culture and religion of Uttarakhand, India; culture and religion of Uttarakhand, Asia; Oriental culture and religion of Uttarakhand to be continued…