As a child, I would wait for this day to take the garland of shakarpaare to school. Have never lived in Kumaon but my family made a conscious effort that we stay in contact with those rituals at least and this is something which I have passed on to my children.
The name of the festival Kaale Kauwa (काले कौवा) black crow sounds very strange. Let me give a brief background about the significance of this festival.
During the middle of January, on 14th to be precise, the sun makes its transition from Sagittarius to Capricorn. It now travels in the north direction and formally marks the arrival of spring. It is celebrated in most South Asian countries.
Cambodia calls it Moha Sangkaran, Thailand Songkran but they celebrate it on 13th April, Sri Lanka Pongal, Nepal Maghe Sankranti. This means the winter is ending. Days will be becoming longer as well.
In India, it is celebrated and addressed in many different way. Its is called Uttarayan in Gujarat, Makar Sankranti in most states, Pongal in Tamil Nadu. Punjab celebrates Lohri a day earlier. This is also a harvest festival. Dishes from fresh cut crop are made and distributed to friends and neighbours. People take holy dip in Ganges and other holy rivers. Some places have kite flying competitions.
In Kumaun, another festival in addition to Makar Sankranti is celebrated the next day. It is called Kale Kauwa (काले कौवा) . With the change in weather, the migratory birds start returning back to hills. Birds, after travelling, are tired and hungry. Food is therfore served to them. It is said that the crow after bathing in the Ganges comes to eat the treats offered to him the next day,
The crow is invited on Makar Sankranti to come the next day. On 15th, it is welcomed by offerings of dumplings called ghughutia made of wheat flour sweetened with jaggery and made into different shapes. These are then fried and strung into a necklace.
There is a folk tale associated with this festival of Uttarakhand. Many years back, an advisor with the name of Ghugut planned an uprising against the ruling king. The crow went and informed the king about this plan. King on hearing this put the advisor to death and said that on this day only crows would be treated with good food!
Early morning, children get up and with the ghughutia necklace made of wheat flour sweetened with jaggery and other edible things hung around their necks, call out to the crows.
An update on another version as sent by my cousin Mahima Pant
In the Kumaoni festival of Ghughutiya, the crow is primary. It is said that the Chandra clan King Kalyan Chand was issueless for several years and his Minister hoped to succeed to the throne one day. As a result of King's prayers to Baghnath, he was blessed with a son - Nirbhaya Chand, who was fondly called Ghughuti by his mother. Ghughuti used to wear a pearl necklace with bells in it. He loved his necklace and whenever he would throw tantrums, his mother would say that she would call the crows to take his necklace. Several times crows would come and Ghughuti would behave properly. His mother would then feed the crows.
One day the Minister decided to kill Ghughuti. He took the crying child to forest. Ghughuti took off his necklace. The crows heard him crying and chased away the Minister. They also took the necklace to the queen, upon which the King followed the crows to where Ghughuti was and got him back.
Ghughuti's mother made many nice dishes and asked him to feed the crows to thank them. People all around heard this story. Since that time all over Kumaon children wear a necklace made of edible sweetmeats called ghughutiya, call out to crows and feed them.
While offering a particular shape, children say these words:
kauwa aa yo khe le (कौवा आ यो खै ले), crow come and eat this.
chaaku (knife): le kauwa chaaku, makey diye suno chaaku (ले कौवा चाकू, मकै दिये सुनु चाकू) .... take crow this knife and give me a golden knife
pue (dumpling): le kauwa pue, makey diye bhal bhal jue (ले कौवा पुए, मकै दिये भल भल जुए) .... take crow this dumpling and give me a good wife. jue is wife in kumauni dialect.
damru (drum): le kauwa damru, makey diye sunu damru (ले कौवा पुए, मकै दिये सुनु डमरू).... take crow this hand held drum and give me a golden drum.
phulo (flower): le kauwa phulo, makey diye bhal bhal dhulo (ले कौवा फूलो , मकै दिये भल भल धुलो ) .. take this flower and give me a good husband (dhulo, husband in kumaun )
talwaar (sword): le kauwa talwaar, makey bane diye hoshiyaar. (ले कौवा तलवार , मकै बणे दिये होशियार)...... oh crow take this sword and make me wise.
dhaal (armour): le kauwa dhaal makey diye sunu thaal (ले कौवा ढाल , मकै दिये सुनु थाल ) .... take this armour and give me a golden plate.
ghada (pitcher): le kauwa ghara, makey diye suno bhar ghada (ले कौवा घड़ा, मकै दिये सुनु भर घड़ा )...... take this pitcher and give me pitcher full of gold.
fruits mainly oranges are also strung, forming the "pendant" of the neck piece. Other accessories include popcorns, whole groundnuts, dry fruits as raisins, walnuts etc.
Gurpare:
I have adapted the recipe below from Nishamadhulika.com
Ingredients:
2 cups wheat flour
1/2 cup sooji
4 tbsp ghee
3 tbsp sesame seeds
1 1/2 tsp fennel seeds, saunf
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup jaggery
Place the jaggery and water in a pan. Heat and bring it to a boil.
Let the jaggery dissolve completely.
Sieve to remove impurities, if any. Keep the liquid aside.
In a bowl, add flour, semolina, sesame seeds, fennel seeds. Add ghee.
Mix it properly.
Add the sweetened jaggery water to make a stiff dough. Cover and let rest for 15 minutes.
Roll into 1/4 inch thick sheet and cut into squares or diamonds.
Heat oil and fry the gurparas on medium flame.
Stir in between to let the gurparas cook evenly.
Transfer to an aborbant kitchen towel.
Enjoy gurparas.
If you find the gurparas not sweet enough, dust them with icing sugar while still hot. Shake them to cover the paras.
The name of the festival Kaale Kauwa (काले कौवा) black crow sounds very strange. Let me give a brief background about the significance of this festival.
During the middle of January, on 14th to be precise, the sun makes its transition from Sagittarius to Capricorn. It now travels in the north direction and formally marks the arrival of spring. It is celebrated in most South Asian countries.
Cambodia calls it Moha Sangkaran, Thailand Songkran but they celebrate it on 13th April, Sri Lanka Pongal, Nepal Maghe Sankranti. This means the winter is ending. Days will be becoming longer as well.
In India, it is celebrated and addressed in many different way. Its is called Uttarayan in Gujarat, Makar Sankranti in most states, Pongal in Tamil Nadu. Punjab celebrates Lohri a day earlier. This is also a harvest festival. Dishes from fresh cut crop are made and distributed to friends and neighbours. People take holy dip in Ganges and other holy rivers. Some places have kite flying competitions.
In Kumaun, another festival in addition to Makar Sankranti is celebrated the next day. It is called Kale Kauwa (काले कौवा) . With the change in weather, the migratory birds start returning back to hills. Birds, after travelling, are tired and hungry. Food is therfore served to them. It is said that the crow after bathing in the Ganges comes to eat the treats offered to him the next day,
The crow is invited on Makar Sankranti to come the next day. On 15th, it is welcomed by offerings of dumplings called ghughutia made of wheat flour sweetened with jaggery and made into different shapes. These are then fried and strung into a necklace.
 |
| Some common examples of shapes made |
Early morning, children get up and with the ghughutia necklace made of wheat flour sweetened with jaggery and other edible things hung around their necks, call out to the crows.
An update on another version as sent by my cousin Mahima Pant
In the Kumaoni festival of Ghughutiya, the crow is primary. It is said that the Chandra clan King Kalyan Chand was issueless for several years and his Minister hoped to succeed to the throne one day. As a result of King's prayers to Baghnath, he was blessed with a son - Nirbhaya Chand, who was fondly called Ghughuti by his mother. Ghughuti used to wear a pearl necklace with bells in it. He loved his necklace and whenever he would throw tantrums, his mother would say that she would call the crows to take his necklace. Several times crows would come and Ghughuti would behave properly. His mother would then feed the crows.
One day the Minister decided to kill Ghughuti. He took the crying child to forest. Ghughuti took off his necklace. The crows heard him crying and chased away the Minister. They also took the necklace to the queen, upon which the King followed the crows to where Ghughuti was and got him back.
Ghughuti's mother made many nice dishes and asked him to feed the crows to thank them. People all around heard this story. Since that time all over Kumaon children wear a necklace made of edible sweetmeats called ghughutiya, call out to crows and feed them.
While offering a particular shape, children say these words:
kauwa aa yo khe le (कौवा आ यो खै ले), crow come and eat this.
chaaku (knife): le kauwa chaaku, makey diye suno chaaku (ले कौवा चाकू, मकै दिये सुनु चाकू) .... take crow this knife and give me a golden knife
pue (dumpling): le kauwa pue, makey diye bhal bhal jue (ले कौवा पुए, मकै दिये भल भल जुए) .... take crow this dumpling and give me a good wife. jue is wife in kumauni dialect.
damru (drum): le kauwa damru, makey diye sunu damru (ले कौवा पुए, मकै दिये सुनु डमरू).... take crow this hand held drum and give me a golden drum.
phulo (flower): le kauwa phulo, makey diye bhal bhal dhulo (ले कौवा फूलो , मकै दिये भल भल धुलो ) .. take this flower and give me a good husband (dhulo, husband in kumaun )
talwaar (sword): le kauwa talwaar, makey bane diye hoshiyaar. (ले कौवा तलवार , मकै बणे दिये होशियार)...... oh crow take this sword and make me wise.
dhaal (armour): le kauwa dhaal makey diye sunu thaal (ले कौवा ढाल , मकै दिये सुनु थाल ) .... take this armour and give me a golden plate.
ghada (pitcher): le kauwa ghara, makey diye suno bhar ghada (ले कौवा घड़ा, मकै दिये सुनु भर घड़ा )...... take this pitcher and give me pitcher full of gold.
fruits mainly oranges are also strung, forming the "pendant" of the neck piece. Other accessories include popcorns, whole groundnuts, dry fruits as raisins, walnuts etc.
Gurpare:
I have adapted the recipe below from Nishamadhulika.com
Ingredients:
2 cups wheat flour
1/2 cup sooji
4 tbsp ghee
3 tbsp sesame seeds
1 1/2 tsp fennel seeds, saunf
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup jaggery
Place the jaggery and water in a pan. Heat and bring it to a boil.
Let the jaggery dissolve completely.
Sieve to remove impurities, if any. Keep the liquid aside.
In a bowl, add flour, semolina, sesame seeds, fennel seeds. Add ghee.
Mix it properly.
Add the sweetened jaggery water to make a stiff dough. Cover and let rest for 15 minutes.
Heat oil and fry the gurparas on medium flame.
Stir in between to let the gurparas cook evenly.
Enjoy gurparas.
If you find the gurparas not sweet enough, dust them with icing sugar while still hot. Shake them to cover the paras.
I remember the festival too, I called out to the crow but ate all the sweets !
ReplyDeleteLovely post...brings back fond memories! Nupur :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Nupur, hope you enjoy reading other posts as well :)
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