Garhwali Folk Tale about Sita taking Refuge into Earth Mother

Garhwali Folk Tales, Fables, Traditional Stories, Community Narratives -104 

(Garhwali religious Folk Tale Literature, Garhwali Traditional Religious Story Literature)

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

       (Based on Sayings in Sitaunsyun Garhwal and Narration by Hema Uniyal, Kedarkhand, pages 144)

               Sitaunsyun is a Patti of Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand, and North India. The name of that Patti is after Sita of Ramayana. It is said that Sita was born in Falsawadi (Mayka) and her Mamakot (mother’s village) Kotasanga and in law village was Dewal.  In memory of Sita, people of Falswadi, Kotasanga and Dewal celebrate a festival Mansar Mela on Igas (around 10^thNovember). The villagers of   Falswadi and Kotasanga bring gifts for Sita here.

  There is folk saying in Sitaunsyun that when Sita wanted to take refuge to her Mother Earth, the Earth Split here in Falswadi. When Sita was submerging into earth Mother, Rama came to stop Sita taking refuge into Earth. Sita had gone down deep into earth. Her Dhameli (plaint of hair) was visible. Rama took the Dhameli of Sita but Sita went into earth. People use grass o rope of ‘Babad’ as symbol of Dhameli of Sita for celebrating and performing the Rituals of Mansar Mela.  There are many rituals performed in a Field in memory of Sita in this Mansar Mela. There is no temple of Sita here.

Copyright @ Bhishma Kukreti 22/4//2015 for review and interpretation

                                 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

Xx

Garhwali Folk Story, Traditional Story about Sita in Sitaunsyun; Garhwali Folk Story , Traditional Story about Sita in Garhwal; Garhwali Folk Story , Traditional Story about Sita in Pauri Garhwal; Garhwali Folk Story , Traditional Story about Sita in Uttarakhand; Garhwali Folk Story , Traditional Story about Sita in Himalaya; Garhwali Folk Story , Traditional Story about Sita in North India; Garhwali Folk Story , Traditional Story about Sita in South Asia