History Review of Khantudua or Bhail-Bhailo Festival initiation in Kumaon and Garhwal

History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar) -353 

                       By: Bhishma Kukreti (A History Research Student)

              People celebrate Khantudua or Bhail-Bhailo Festival on Ashuj month Sankrant in Kumaon and Garhwal as well.

  Both regions have their own folklore and reasons for celebrating this festival. However, Lakshmi Chand is common factor in celebrating Khantudua or Bhail-Bhailo Festival.

                 Lakshmi Chand performing Mantra Sadhana for winning Garhwal

   The Champawat Court priest or Raj Guru offered confidence to Lakshmi Chandra that he would win Garhwal by performing a specific mantra-Tantrik process. Guru or court priest went to Bengal for performing that specific winning Mantra. Raj Guru returned from Bengal after a year and Lakshmi Chandra attacked eighth time on Garhwal. Before attack in 1602, Lkashmi Chand performed Puja in Bageshwar and Jageshwar temples. On that time Khantuda Singh was regional commander of Garhwal army and he fought the battle with force. However, Lakshmi Chand army commander Gaida was able to kill Khantudva Singh. The win was on tine region of Garhwal. Lakshmi Chandra kept grass piles on hill tops and order was for army that when Khantuduva Singh was killed grass piles should be ignited so that message is reached to Champawat. Though, the win was mere tiny, army lit the grass piles. King Lakshmi Chandra ordered to people of Kumaon for celebrating Khantuduva by burning grass piles in night and singing Bhail-Bhailo –

Bhailo ji Bhailo ! Bhailo Khantuduva

Gainda Ki Jit , Khatad kee Har  

Gaida Padyu Shyel, Khantud pade Bhel !

 The frequent battles between Kumaon and Garhwal Kingdoms at border disturbed the villages both the sides. There was peace after the last battle.

Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti Mumbai, India, bckukreti@gmail.com30/5/2014

History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand, India) to be continued… Part -354

                                                              

                                      References

1-Dr. Shiv Prasad Dabral, 1971, Uttarakhand ka Itihas Bhag-4, Veer Gatha Press, Dogadda, Pauri Garhwal, India 

2-Harikrishna Raturi, Garhwal ka Itihas

3-Dr. Patiram, Garhwal Ancient and Modern

4-Rahul Sankrityayan, Garhwal

5- Oakley and Gairola, Himalayan Folklore

6- Bhakt Darshan, Garhwal ki Divangit Vibhutiyan

7-Foster, Early Travels in India William Finch

8-Upadhyaya, Shri Shankaracharya

9-Shering, Western Tibet and British

10-H.G. Walton, Gazetteer of British Garhwal

11-B.P.Kamboj, Early Wall Paintings of Garhwal

12-H.g Walton, Gazetteer of Dehradun

13- Vimal Chandra, Prachin Bharat ka Itihas

14-Meera Seth, Wall Paintings of Western Himalayas 

15-Furar, Monumental Antiquities

16-Haudiwala, Studies in Indo-Muslim History

17- Rahul Khari 2007, Jats and Gujjar Origin, History and Culture

18- Upendra Singh, 2006, Delhi: Ancient History, Barghahan Books

19- B.S. Dahiya, 1980, Jats the Ancient Rulers (A Clan Study) , Sterling Publications

20- Maithani, Bharat –Gotrapravardeepika

21 Prem Hari Har Lal, 1993, The Doon Valley Down the Ages

22-Dashrath Sharma, Early Chauhan Dynasties

23- Shailndra Nath Sen, Ancient History and Civilization

24-H.M Elliot, 1867, The History of India as told by its Own Historians

25- Jaswant Lal Mehta, 1979, Advance Study in Medieval India

26- Nau Nihal Singh, 2003, The Royal Gurjars: their contribution to India, Anmol Publications 

27- H. Blochmann, 1873,  Aine e- Akbari Translation

(The History of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar write up is aimed for general readers)

History of Garhwal from 1223-1804 to be continued in next chapter          

Notes on South Asian Medieval History of Garhwal;  SouthAsian Medieval History of Pauri Garhwal;  Medieval History of Chamoli Garhwal;  South Asian Medieval History of Rudraprayag Garhwal;  South Asian Medieval History of Tehri Garhwal;  Medieval History of Uttarkashi Garhwal;  South Asian Medieval History of Dehradun, Garhwal;  Medieval History of Haridwar ;  South Asian Medieval History of Manglaur, Haridwar;  South Asian Medieval History of Rurkee Haridwar ;  South Asian Medieval History of Bahadarpur Haridwar ; South Asian History of Haridwar district to be continued

XX

History Review of Khantudua or Bhail-Bhailo Festival initiation in Kumaon and Garhwal; History Review of Khantudua or Bhail-Bhailo Festival initiation in Kumaon and Garhwal in context History of Pauri Garhwal; History Review of Khantudua or Bhail-Bhailo Festival initiation in Kumaon and Garhwal in context History of Chamoli Garhwal; History Review of Khantudua or Bhail-Bhailo Festival initiation in Kumaon and Garhwal in context History of Rudraprayag Garhwal; History Review of Khantudua or Bhail-Bhailo Festival initiation in Kumaon and Garhwal in context History of Tehri Garhwal; History Review of Khantudua or Bhail-Bhailo Festival initiation in Kumaon and Garhwal in context History of Uttarkashi Garhwal; History Review of Khantudua or Bhail-Bhailo Festival initiation in Kumaon and Garhwal in context History of Dehradun Garhwal; History Review of Khantudua or Bhail-Bhailo Festival initiation in Kumaon and Garhwal in context History of Haridwar Garhwal;