Belief on Souls of Deceased in British Garhwal

  British Administration in Garhwal   -186

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History of British Rule/Administration over Kumaun and Garhwal (1815-1947) -206

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            History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar) -1039

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                              By: Bhishma Kukreti (History Student)

  

.   People used to die due to falling in valleys, cloud bursting, caught in storm, caught in snow storm, falling from trees, snake bites, killings by tigers or bears etc. People had belief that such soul did reach to heaven but remained near where person died. People call such dissatisfied soul as Bhut. There was /is belief that Bhut harassed other people. Usually, every week a Bhut used to harass a person in village. People used to hang some anti Bhut Tantra at door or above door. People travelling used to keep a  knife or hackle with them as weapon that made Bhut away from them. After eighteenth century or in eighteenth century, reading Hanuman Chalisa became fashion to get rid of Bhut.  

       Bhotiya also used to do Tantra –Mantra remedies  (Sara or Rgosha) for keeping away Bhut or devil souls.  

 There are historical records (Dabral, page 377) that dissatisfied soul of King  Shyam Shah  used to come to Shrinagar after 6 Pm. King Shyam Shah died by drawing into Alaknanda.

    There were many dissatisfied souls that people used to worship through Ghadela  as Jeetu Bagdwal, Kal Bisht , many Katyuir Kings and administrators.

                              Hantya Rituals

 The beief was that many dissatisfied soul wanted to meet his family members and his/her soul entered into a family member body. Future teller used to tell that concept to family members. Family used to held Hantya Ghadela (ritual) where jagri used to play drum, thali and used to sing Hntya Jagar. Dead soul used to dance through that person where it entered. hantya ritual is always pathos oriented ritual.     

         

References  

1-Shiv Prasad Dabral ‘Charan’, Uttarakhand ka Itihas, Part -7 Garhwal par British -Shasan, part -1, page- 343-456

2- Atkinson, Himalayan Districts Vol.3

 3- Asiatic Researches Vo.l 6

4- Pannalal , Customary law in Kumaon page 6 to 8

5- Joshi Khas Family law

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Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti Mumbai, India,bjkukreti@gmail.com 28/9/2017 History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand, India) to be continued… Part -1040

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*** History of British Rule/Administration over British Garhwal (Pauri, Rudraprayag, and Chamoli1815-1947) to be continued in next chapter

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

 History of British Garhwal, History of Devalgarh Garhwal; History of Badhan Garhwal; History of Barasyun Garhwal; History of Chandpur Garhwal; History of Chaundkot Garhwal; History of  Gangasalan Garhwal;  History of Mallasalan Garhwal;  History ofTallasaln Garhwal; History of Dashauli Garhwal; History of Nagpur Garhwal; Sociity  in British Garhwal. History of British Garhwal, History of Social Structure and Religious Faith in Chamoli Garhwal, History of Social Structure and Religious Faith of Pauri Garhwal ,  Social and Culture History of Rudraprayag Garhwal