COSMIC FIASCO OF ASHATGRAH

Yet another big religious event that Ladori had to undertake in the year 1962 was to pacify the wrath of cosmos and destruction of earth by high energy radiations from the outer space.

 Akhand Bhajan-Kirtan continuously for two months at Dharamshala in Hattian followed by a large scale Yagna which was solemnized in the lawns of Hanumar Shiv Doala situated at Hattian under a huge Peepal tree, between the tracks leading to Mandi and Upli Jabbar that lasted for a week where quintals of havan samagri, firewood (Samvidha) and plenty of pure ghee was used by eleven priests at a stretch, day and night, in order to pacify the wrath of infamous cosmic fiasco of Ashtagraha when eight planets were in conjunction with Capricorn and every Indian astrologer proclaimed that life on earth would end at 5.35 PM on February, 3, 1962.
   
 In order to escape from the predicted calamity, The life came to stand still, buses, trains and planes went empty.  Schools, colleges and offices were closed.  Ghee worth crores of rupees went up in smoke of sacrificial fires to appease the gods in full length and breadth of the country.  However, by the grace of God, nothing happened and people took a sigh of relief.

Ladori was also not behind in following rest of  country and in pleasing the gods which shows deep religious mindedness of the residents of Ladori.

In the present times, however, it can generally be observed that drastic change has taken place in religious thinking of the people with their attitudinal change brought about by the rapid socioeconomic status of the people.  It is evidently clear that money power, trickling of western culture into the remotest corners of the country.  Computers, laptops, mobile phones, internet culture and craze for so called false social status have taken precedence  over the religious chores of the common people.  However, belief in gods is still deep rooted and not likely to be over shadowed!

                                                  FESTIVITIES - LOHRI IN LADORI

 Indian culture is as old as more than 5000 years.  Among other rituals, some are full of colors while others full of lights and fasts.  Festival of fire, Lohri, is one among those festivals which is celebrated in North Indian states like Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab in particular with great enthusiasm and fanfare where god of fire is worshiped.

 In my village Ladori, Lohri used to be celebrated with great pomp and show and in a manner so unique that you could not possibly have seen or heard of celebration of Lohri in such a way in any other parts of the country!

 This festival also relates to harvest and winter season. On Lohri day, soon after sun set, when night falls, people of all ages specially women and children start getting together at a central common place wearing colorful attire. Each household put their share of firewood at a given place.  The bulk of firewood  is arranged  in a pyramid shape.  The fire is then lit with great fanfare, rituals and prayer.  Folk songs are sung in reverence of god of fire.  Children start shouting with joy wearing garlands of dry fruits, making merry while bursting crackers. 

 Til, gur, moongfali, chirwa, ghachak have special significance on this festival which is first offered to the fire and distributed among all those present at the spot and also to the passers-by.  People continue singing, dancing and clapping till late night praying god of fire for their well being, good health, prosperity and happiness. Lohri is particularly treated as a special occasion for newly wedded girls and new borne babies.  Young boys and girls go door to door, in groups, singing and dancing asking for eatables and few coins!

 At Ladori, Lohri was used to be lit at two places - Hattian and Mandi every year as usual with great fanfare indeed. While it was a simple Lohri in Hattian, Pathania's youth was perhaps more clever and funny in declaring  theirs as Lohra!  They always wanted to get their so called Lohra married to Lohri in Hattian, though forcefully!

 Come Lohri festival, tempers soared high at both sides.  Exchange of  hot and spicy dialogues, betting and hollow challenges went on between the two rivals unabated until Lohri day. Despite persuasion and even threats by parents and elders, none would pay heed, instead tightened their belts for the final encounter!  On the day, when Lohri is lit up in the evening, women and children worshiped the fire, sang songs, danced with joy and distributed dry fruits among the gathering in Hattian and in the neighborhood and children busted crackers.

 Suddenly, a bunch of brats, quite obviously, from Mandi would emerge at the scene from just no where in the dark.  They looked visibly tense and angry.  Seeing all this, there would be a pin drop silence as everyone seemed frightened with the impending fear of all hell breaking loose any moment.  Within a blink of an eye, this unruly mob would involve in a hand-to-hand fight with whosoever came their way.  They would drag burning logs, twigs and whatever material they could lay their hand on in the meely and try to run back fast to Mandi. 

 There would be tough resistance by the gathering, but some of them would escape with the burning logs in the darkness.  They would then put such burning material into their Lohra with a sense of pride, satisfaction and winning while shouting at their pitch that they have accomplished the mission and brought home the bride! It was, however, not all smiles every time.  Many a time, with the toughest posture taken by the people in Hattian, Pathania's Lohra was left alone and Kunwara and its sponsors were left nursing their wounds for quite some time to come!