Ban Haldi, Spiked Ginger in Myths and Traditions of Uttarakhand -

Plant Myths, Religious Importance, and Traditions in Uttarakhand (Himalaya) - 11

By: Bhishma Kukreti, M.Sc. (Botany) (Mythology Research Scholar)

Botanical name –Hedychium spicatum

Local name – Bagwald, Ban haldi ,                                                   

Hindi Name – Kapoor Kachri

Sanskrit Name – Sati

Economic benefits – Various medicinal traditional and modern uses.

                   Myths, Religious Importance and Traditions

  The common men of hills of Uttarakhand have little knowledge  about medicinal values but don’t  have deep knowledge  about medical benefit of  बग्वळद,  ‘ban haldi ‘or spiked ginger but they perceive the rhizomes very auspicious rhizomes. At the time of Haldi Hath (Bathing with the aid of turmeric paste by would be bride or groom before marriage party proceedings) ceremony, ban haldi paste is mixed with turmeric paste. The juice of rhizomes is irritating for skin. Therefore, very small quantity of ban haldi or spiked ginger is used for mixing with turmeric rhizomes for making paste for Haldi Hath ceremony.

 The folk singers sing following song at the time of Haldi Hath -

 हल्दी लगाण  दैं मांगळ

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कैन हल्दी साए ह्वेलि कैन हल्दी बाए ह्वेलि s s s s

कैन हल्दी साए ह्वेलि कैन हल्दी बाए ह्वेलि s s s s

मादेव जीन सायो छौ बायो छौ s s s s

मादेव जीन सायो छौ बायो छौ s s s s

पारबती जीन न्युलो छौ ग्वाड़ो छौ s s s s

पारबती जीन न्युलो छौ ग्वाड़ो छौ s s s s

कैन हल्दी त्वे रंग चढायो s s s s

कैन हल्दी त्वे रंग चढायो s s s s

पंचनाम दिव्तौन मैं रंग चढायो s s s s

पंचनाम दिव्तौन मैं रंग चढायो s s s s

s= is Half a ( s= आधी अ है )

Acknowledgement- Thankful to Prof R.D Badola for informing botanical name

Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti, Mumbai 2017

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Plant Myths  , Religious Importance, Traditions , Garhwal, Uttarakhand ; Plant Myths , Religious Importance, Traditions , Kumaon, Uttarakhand ;Plant Myths , Religious Importance, Traditions , Uttarakhand; Plant Myths , Religious Importance, Traditions , Uttarakhand, Himalaya; Plant Myths , Religious Importance, Traditions , Uttarakhand, North India; Plant Myths , Religious Importance, Traditions , Uttarakhand, South Asia