Shu..God

The district of Kinnaur is the Kinner desh of mythological fame. The region is full of folk tales, which are about
gods and evil spirits. Even some of the very old songs narrate stories, like the one about the flying monk and the
story about the Sapni Nagesu (it's said that the story is so sad that every time it's sung, the women cry. I'll
probably narrate it some time later) and many more.
We all know that every village has a different "SHU ”. Any important occasion is incomplete without their
presence or consent. However, every time I have seen a SHU ,I have only seen their faces...even in Bhima Kali
temple which I visit regularly. I pestered my relative to tell me the funda behind this. To my big surprise, it
turned out to be an episode from Mahabharata which goes like....
At the time of the Mahabharata, the gods and goddesses descended upon the Earth to watch the war. They were
resting under a peepal tree when Lord Krishna met them. Being as he was, he asked where they were headed.
They told him that they were heading to see the Mahabharata and perhaps fight the battle, in support of the
underdog. Since Lord Krishna, the 'kut Nitgya' was with the Pandavas, the Kauravas were the obvious underdogs.
To test the powers of these gods and goddesses, Lord Krishna plucked a leaf from a tree and pressing it under
his foot; he told them to demonstrate their power. One of them got up and shot an arrow aimed at the tree.
Every leaf was pierced including the one under Lord Krishna's foot. Seeing this, Lord Krishna realized that the
gods were indeed very powerful and if they joined the Kauravas, the battle would be prolonged. He played a
trick, telling them that if they proceeded in their bodily form, they would take forever to reach Kurukshetra.
The best way would be to go as Atmas. They all agreed and left their bodies behind. On reaching the
battlefield, they joined the Kauravas, but soon realized that they could do nothing without their bodies.
So, they went back to the place where they had left their bodies but when they reached there, they saw that
Lord Krishna had disposed off their bodies, saying that they were rotting. However, the heads were saved. This is
how they lost their bodies. These gods were given a boon, that as long as the universe existed, the people of the
Himalayas would worship them and that you could see the battles sitting in the Himalayas itself.
And this how our gods lost their bodies and we came to worship them....


written by Ambika Negi

Traveller's Eye.....Kinnaur

This blog is the answer of the questions that my friend asked me several time Why we go to Kinnaur?, What is different in Kinnaur from other hill station ? , Where is it?...and many more.
Joie de vivre (joy of life) begins at Kinnaur- It is a land of multi facets. Come here for trekking, gliding, camping, bird watching, rafting, angling and to experience the different lifestyle. But if you are not interested in any of them then just walk around lazily to have a feel of heaven. Kinnaur is not so recognized (like other hill station) but you can come here to see breathtakingly scenic and thinly dispersed populated district of Himachal Pradesh. It is circumscribed by the majestic mountain of the Himalayan and Dhauladhar ranges. This land lies on the ancient trade route between India and Tibet. Being home to some of India's oldest legends, the religion of the people is a remarkable mix of Hinduism and Buddhism. The people of Kinnaur also believe that their ancestors were somewhere between men and god and had supernatural powers. The district of Kinnaur came into existence in the year 1960. The attractions of Kinnaur lie in the passes, forest, temple, hills and valleys that make this land a unique one. There are some exclusive points and places that you should see in Kinnaur. Reckong Peo (district headquarter) : It is a pretty mountain town surrounded by the Kinner Kailash ranges. From Recong Peo, the view of the snow covered Kinner Kailash is simply breathtaking.

Kalpa: According to legends, Kalpa is the winter abode of Shiva and all the god of Kinnaur assemble before him during this time for an annual conference. Kalpa offer some fantastic early morning views of the Kinner Kailash.

Koti: The main attraction of the village is the Shuwang Chandika' temple. Sangla valley: It is also known by the name of Baspa valley because the river Baspa flows through it. Natural attraction here includes the magnificent views of the Kinner Kailash peak, wonderful saffron fields and relaxing alpine meadows. Sangla valley is perfect for those interested in adventure sports. Options for angling, river crossing, paragliding, trekking, bird watching and forest trails are available to enthuse you. In this valley you should see a temple dedicated to Nages god along with other attractions like Sapni, Rackchham, Kilba, Kamru ,Chitkul, Batseri Fort

Pooh: This place is also known by the name of Spuwa. The attraction here are the vineyards, apricot, almond and grapes orchard. Moorang: Morang is located on the left bank of river Satluj. The attraction of this village is predominantly its location. You reach it passing through apricot orchards.

Nako: The main attraction here is a lake formed out of the melting of ice and snow. Temple’s dedicated to local deities are also attractive.


Come to take an adventure tour of Kinnaur where the option for challenging sports is limitless. Paradise for trekkers. Every grade of treks are available. Glacier line (Permanent snow line) is much closer in Kinnaur than anywhere else in Himalayas. Trekking route of Kinnaur are:

• Kinner Kailash Circuit
• Spiti Trek
• Kaza to Bhaba
• Bhabha Pass Trek
• Reckong peo –Nako
• Sangla-Barang
• Sangla-Dodakawar
• Chitkul-Gangotri

But in my thinking in Kinnaur if you walk from one village to other you experience it as trekking. As you progress on the various passes of Kinnaur district, you will get a chance to enjoy the village life of the people from propinquity. You can see that how people are enjoying their life at the top of mountains



Reaching Kinnaur will perhaps be the most adventurous journey of your life. The narrow paths give way to the most scenic landscape that you can ever come across. If planning to reach you book a Gypsy or Sumo and come by roadways. The most exciting way for as almost each and every part of the state is linked by roads. The Himachal Road Transport Corporation is running its buses covering the whole state. There is huge network of HRTC providing limitless facilities that see to the needs of the tourists.

I think if I m not stop at this blog at this point this will never finish because there is lots of things about Kinnaur that i want to share . The best ways to know Kinnaur is stay there for 2-3 weeks. I promise you surely enjoy.

Toshim

Toshim...

Yet again, it's that time of the year when young professionals and students get together to celebrate their unity and traditions. It holds a different meaning for different people. For some, it's just another excuse to party, for others it's an opportunity to meet old friends and relatives. For some, it's time to make amends in a relationship gone sour, but for me, it's the sheer bliss of seeing so many people from my place at the same time! It's heartening to see them doing so well in life and taking the time out to catch up, in spite of their busy schedules. The entire concept made me quite curious about its origin, so, I did a little research and this is what I discovered.

Rough terrain and isolation, led to fairs and festivals being the major means of amusement for the people of Kinnaur. During the cold winters, they narrated folk tales about gods and evil spirits.

One of such social gatherings was Toshing ('sit together'). It is organized throughout Kinnaur at different times of the year and for varying durations. It is traditionally organized by unmarried girls. A group of girls called 'Toshing Konich' is formed. A head called 'Gomeng' is chosen from amongst the group, and the date and location of the Toshing is decided. The biggest house is selected as the venue and while no rent is paid, the Konich provide help and food to the owners instead. These girls then start the preparation for the Toshing by collecting shadung (beer) and phasun (alcohol).

On the day of the Toshing, once the house is cleaned and the food is prepared, the girls go out and invite their boy-partners, who are called 'Toshing-Koniyan'.The celebration then starts. They eat, sing and dance. The singing is done by both males and females; however the instruments like dhol etc
are played by boys only.

With changing times, more and more youngsters are moving out of Kinnaur. Kinnauras have spread to every corner of the country and are living a fast-paced life. This get together provides a platform for us to reassure that we are one, in spite of not being within the confines of our region. That, even though we are exposed to various cultures, we have not forgotten our identity. It is now upto us to keep our traditions alive and pass the baton onto the next generation.