Himachal Pradesh is renowned worldwide for its ancient culture and traditions, which include a plethora of fairs and festivals. Each festival is associated with an ancient legend. One such festival is the Faguli or "Masks" festival.
Faguli Festival
Every year, in February, as snow covers the surrounding mountains, we celebrate Faguli, a mountain festival of Himachal, to ward off bad spirits. Faguli is one of the most unique Indian spring festivals, and it falls between mid-February to mid-March in the month of Falgun. It marks the end of winters and the beginning of spring, and its main theme is the victory of good over evil.
Kinnaur to Kullu's Unique Traditions
Faguli, a vibrant spring festival celebrated in various villages of Himachal Pradesh, unveils a rich tapestry of customs and stories, each unique to the distinct regions of Lahaul Spiti, Kullu, Manali, and Kinnaur. This festival, marked by diverse traditions, is a testament to the cultural richness and diversity of the Himalayan state.
Faguli in Kinnaur
In Kinnaur, Faguli is intricately connected with Basant Panchami, celebrating the arrival of spring (Falgun) among the tribal communities. The festivities begin with thorough cleaning of homes, symbolizing a fresh start for the season. Monsoon gods are welcomed by name in a ceremony that involves shooting arrows at a portrait of Ravana drawn on paper. The success of hitting the target signifies the victory of gods over demons in the heavens.
Interestingly, the blowing of conch shells is forbidden during this festival to ensure the gods remain focused on their battle against demons. A unique tradition involves burning Suskar Horing wood in a cave, with the roof covered in lard (foo) while barley is roasted below. If barley grains jump and cling to the cave's roof, it is considered a sign of good luck.
The festival culminates with a procession led by a man with Huri, followed by the Lankawalla and the Kittewalla carrying the 'Doo.' After three rounds of the temple, villagers attempt to snatch the 'Doo,' feeding it to their animals. In some areas, Faguli extends to a week-long celebration with offerings and rituals dedicated to the Savani deities.
Faguli in Kullu
In the remote villages of Kullu district, Tirthan Valley, and Jibhi, the Faguli festival, also known as the Festival of Masks, unfolds over a month, starting from Sankranti. This festival, unique to the region, involves the use of obscene abuses as a means to drive away witches, evil powers, and ghosts.
The celebration revolves around the triumph of good over evil, virtue over sin, and religion over unrighteousness. While the use of indecent abuses may seem unconventional, it is an integral part of the Faguli festival in Kullu. Women, in some areas, participate by singing vulgar abuses through songs, a tradition from which men abstain due to superstitions about bringing bad omens.
A Festival of Colors and Tradition
This festival is mainly focused on men. Women participate in the ceremony and enjoy the festivities, but only men dress up in traditional attire. They wear a brass skirt, a colorful headgear adorned with yellow garland flowers, and a wooden mask.
Harvesting Sharuli Grass: Crafting Tradition
People venture into the surrounding forests to collect sharuli grass, a tall and thick wild grass that resembles haldi. This grass is not ordinary as it has been used for generations to weave special clothes for Faguli. After collection, the grass is washed and dried before skilled artisans from the neighboring village weave it into chola - a long and heavy skirt that reaches all the way to the ankles. This special weaving skill is passed down from generation to generation, and it can take up to two full days to weave a single skirt.
During a village meeting, six men are randomly selected to wear the long and heavy chola and dance at the festival. Their names are written on a piece of paper for the selection process.
Before the festival, no one is allowed to approach the selected men as they build their energy reserves. When Faguli begins, they appear wearing the skirt, a mask covering their face, a hat made of flowers on their head, and a colorful shawl to keep them warm in the winter cold.
There are many stories associated with the mask. Some believe that people call out names from behind the masks to scare away evil spirits.
Traditional wooden masks
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