Beej Ni Khan Bhairon! Never Consume Seeds kept for Sowing: A Garhwali Folk Story for Resource Management Managers

Garhwali Folk Tales, Fables, Traditional Stories, Community Narratives -63

  Compiled and Edited by: Bhishma Kukreti (Management Training Expert)

 (Narrated by Late Smt. Kwanra Devi Kukreti, Jaspur, Malla Dhangu, Pauri Garhwal)

                 It is commonly believed in Garhwal that it is sin chewing seeds before sowing is completed.  Atkinson also wrote that Garhwalis do not chew/eat/consume seeds even in very adverse conditions before sowing are complete. One of my grandmothers (my father’s aunt) told me a story behind this belief.

                   The story is century back. There was very rich Thokdar (chieftain) in our region. God was happy on our people and every year timely rain used to happen.  Thokdar (chieftain) was very rich and he used to distribute his crops very gladly to his Khaikar and craftsmen and labors. He had many stores for grains.

          Once, Thokdar’s grandson from daughter visited his grandfather’s village. Thokdar was very happy to see his only grandson from his daughter.

              The boy was energetic and he used to explore every matter in his grandfather’s house. One day, the child went to a store where ‘Beejun Pitak’ (seeds (kept for sowing) vessels made by leaves) were there. The explorer boy opened a Beejun Pitak (seed vessel made by leaves) where maize seeds were kept. He called his grandfather and asked his grandfather to boil the maize seeds for making Bukhan and also make bread by those maize seeds. Thokdar told his wife (grandmother of boy) to boil maize seeds for making Bukhan and grind maize seeds for making flour. Thokdar’s wife advised her husband not to make Bukhan and flour from maize seeds kept for sowing. Thokdar did not follow his wife advice.

             Thokdar’s wife boiled seeds (those were kept for sowing) and grounded  seeds (kept for sowing) for making flour. The boy consumed Bukhan and maize bread with taste. Thokdar and his family members consumed Bukhan and bread made by seeds kept for sowing.

                    That year, there was sudden draught and sever famine came. There was draught another year too and famine was more sever. Even Thokdar family was not in position to have two time meal. Thokdar started remembering his Kul Dev-Devta (family deities). One night,  he saw his Kul Devta in dream. His Kul Devta informed Thokdar that there is draught because he and his family members consumed the seeds those were kept for sowing. Kul Devta advised Thokdar that his entire subject should take a vow that in any condition not to consume seeds those are kept for sowing.     

 Next day, Thokdar called his entire subject at Kul Devta Mandir, Entire subject and Thokdar took a vow not to consume seeds kept for sowing.  Kul Devta (family deity) became happy and there was good rain that year and very good crop too.

             From that day, no body consumes seeds kept for sowing before the sowing is completed.

Copyright @ Bhishma Kukreti 2/ 2/2014 for review and interpretation

Garhwali Folk Tales, Fables, Traditional stories, Community Narratives for Effective Managers, Effective executives, Effective Boss, Effective Supervisors or Stories for Effective management, management Lesson from Garhwali Folk Literature from Garhwal, to be continued …in next chapter

                                 References

1-Bhishma Kukreti, 1984, Garhwal Ki Lok Kathayen, Binsar Prakashan, Lodhi Colony, Delhi 110003, 

2- Bhishma Kukreti 2003, Salan Biten Garhwali Lok Kathayen, Rant Raibar, Dehradun

3- Bhishma Kukreti, Garhwali Lok Kathaon ma Prabandh Vigyan ka Tantu , Chitthi Patri’s Lok Kathayen Visheshank  , Dehradun

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Beej Ni Khan Bhairon! Never Consume Seeds for Sowing: A Garhwali Folk Story for Resource Management Managers; Never Consume Seeds for Sowing: A Garhwali Folk Story from Dhangu Garhwal for Resource Management Managers; A Garhwali Folk Story from Gangasalan Garhwal for Resource Management Managers; A Garhwali Folk Story from Pauri Garhwal for Resource Management Managers; A Garhwali Folk Story from Haridwar Garhwal for Resource Management Managers; A Garhwali Folk Story from Dehradun Garhwal for Resource Management Managers; A Garhwali Folk Story from Uttarkashi Garhwal for Resource Management Managers; A Garhwali Folk Story from Tehri Garhwal for Resource Management Managers; A Garhwali Folk Story from Rudraprayag Garhwal for Resource Management Managers; A Garhwali Folk Story from Chamoli Garhwal for Resource Management Managers;