Draft:Ghughutiya Festival

Gughutiya
Type	Hindu
Related to	Makar Sankranti, Uttarayana

The Gughutiya Festival or the “घुघुतिया त्यौहार” celebrated predominantly in the regions of Uttarakhand, India, is a traditional cultural event that takes place around the time of Makar Sankranti.​ This festival is marked by its unique rituals, particularly the preparation of ghughute, a sweet delicacy offered to crows, symbolizing the connection between the living and the ancestral spirits.

The festival is primarily referred to as Ghughutiya in the Kumaon region, while in the Garhwal region, it is known as Khichdi Sankrant or Gholdiya. Additionally, it is termed Uttarayani throughout Uttarakhand, marking its association with the Makar Sankranti celebration. Other names include Makraini, Makrain, Chunyatyar, Pusyodiya, and Kale Kauva.

Folklores and Legends

The festival is also associated with local legends, notably one involving King Kalyan Chand of Kumaon. The story tells of his son Nirbhay and a crow's warning of a betrayal. This event is said to have led the king to establish the tradition of offering sweet delicacies (ghughute) to crows as a token of gratitude for their life-saving intervention.

Astronomical Significance

The Gughutiya festival coincides with Makar Sankranti, which marks the sun's transition from the zodiac sign of Capricorn (Makar) to Sagittarius (Dhanu). ​This solar event is significant as it signifies the beginning of the sun's northern journey (Uttarayan) from Dakshinayan (southward journey), indicating the end of the winter solstice and the onset of longer days.​ During this period, several notable constellations become prominent in the January night sky. Orion and Taurus are particularly visible, with Orion featuring its distinctive hourglass shape and including bright stars such as Rigel and Betelgeuse, making it one of the most recognizable constellations. Taurus, which contains the prominent Pleiades star cluster and the bright star Aldebaran, represents the celestial Bull and serves as an identifiable feature in the sky. Additionally, on January 14, 2024, the moon is in the waxing crescent phase, approximately three days after the New Moon, with about 12% of its surface illuminated.

Celebrations

Preparation of ghughute

The preparation of ghughute begins with the creation of the dough, made from a mixture of wheat flour, water, and ghee (clarified butter). The dough is kneaded until it becomes smooth and pliable. Once the dough achieves the desired consistency, it is shaped into small, spherical balls that are then flattened slightly into disk-like forms. These disks are filled with a carefully prepared mixture of jaggery, sesame seeds, and coconut, which strikes a balance between sweet and savory flavors. After filling, the disks are sealed and shaped into their distinctive, elongated forms.

Subsequently, the Ghughute are deep-fried in oil until they attain a golden brown color and a crispy texture. Following frying, they are often soaked in a sweet syrup made from jaggery and water, enhancing their flavor and moisture. The final step in the preparation of Gughutiya involves decoration, where the sweetmeats are adorned with intricate designs using sesame seeds, coconut, and other edible materials.

Uttarayani Fair

The Uttarayani Fair, held annually during the Gughutiya Festival on Makar Sankranti, is famous in Bageshwar, where it transforms the town into a vibrant hub of social, cultural, and economic activities. Traditional folks such as Choliyas, Jhoras, Chancharis, and Bairas show their performances through music and dance, the fair offers a variety of local products, including iron and copper vessels, baskets, bamboo articles, mats, carpets, blankets, herbs, and spices.

History

The Gughutiya festival, rooted in the 12th century during the Chand dynasty's reign in Kumaon, Uttarakhand, is believed to have originated as a ritualistic ceremony honoring the goddess Shyamala, the Chand kings' patron deity. Local legend suggests that the people of Kumaon appeased the goddess Shyamala by offering Gughutiya, sweetmeats made from wheat flour, jaggery, and sesame seeds. Kalyan Chand, also known as Kalyan Shah, was a king of the Chand dynasty who ruled over the Kumaon region in the 12th century.

Kalyan Chand, a just ruler of Kumaon, faced a severe drought. Seeking divine intervention, he prayed to the goddess Shyamala. The goddess instructed him to prepare a special sweetmeat, Gughutiya, as an offering. The people of Kumaon prepared Gughutiya with devotion and offered it to the goddess on Makar Sankranti. As a result, the drought ended, and the kingdom prospered. To commemorate this event, the Gughutiya festival is celebrated annually on Makar Sankranti.

Traditions and Customs

The phrase "Kale Kauva Kale, Ghughuti Mala/Bada Khale" is a significant part of the Gughutiya Festival. It translates to "Black Crow, Black, eat this garland of sweetmeats." Children chant this phrase while inviting crows to partake in the offerings worn around their necks. This ritual is believed to have originated from the Hindu Mythology which strengthens the connection between the living and their ancestors, as crows are seen as messengers to the spirit world.

“काले कौआ काले, घुघुती माला खाले,

लै कौआ बड़ा, आपु सबुनी के दिए सुनक ठुल ठुल घड़ा,

रखिये सबुने कै निरोग, सुख समृधि दिए रोज रोज।”

“लै कावा भात, में कै दे सुनक थात!

लै कावा लगड़, में कै दे भैबैणों दगड़!

लै कावा बौड़ में, कै दे सुनौक घ्वड़!

लै कावा क्वे, में कै दे भली भली ज्वे!”