GANER FESTIVAL, Naggar, 13 January 2005
There are 3 different festivals which are being celebrated on one day in the beginning of the year (the day varies according to season). In 2005 this festival was held on 13th January.
There are 3 parts in this festival.
1. Festival of Horns.
According to legend, once upon a time King Rana of Jagatsukh with his army attacked the King of Naggar. The merciless fight started. In Naggar King’s army there was one big ram, and this animal also participated in battle, fighting very bravely. However, King of Naggar lost this battle, the ram was captured and killed. King Rana appreciated highly the courage of the defeated army, and as a symbol of courage he took the horns of this ram.
So, these very horns are being kept in the house of one family – Jathyari (which means ‘elder’), which carries on the tradition from generation to generation, and every year performs the role in this festival.
2. ‘Jiru’ festival
It is said, that January month is the darkest of all months. People believe, that if they abuse and mock at everything dark, then the evil forces will get scared, run away, and thus will not approach the people causing them harm.
These ‘abuses’ are pronounced jokingly, in singing manner, and they revolve mainly around the12 months and 12 local seasons. Relationship between man and woman, as well as the issue of sexual organs also gets a heated mockery at – all this evokes loud outbursts of laughter amongst the participants – mainly men. The language during this part of festival is such, that women can be hardly seen in the streets…they are advised to stay at home in order to spare their ears!
There is one man who starts the ‘abuse’ – first of all, however, he evokes the blessings of Hadimba Mother, Naggar Raja and all Naggar people who contribute to the festival.
During the festival, one can see walnuts being thrown by the people to the crowds of participants – walnuts symbolize prosperity.
People walk around the village, stop at several houses and sing their ‘abuse’ – during this day, one can abuse anybody else, and the person should not get offended – moreover, it is considered, that one who gets most abuses, will be lucky throughout the year.
3. ‘Guun festival’
There is again a legend at the foundation of this festival. One legend says about the people of Naggar and Jana villages who fought between each other. Traditionally, Naggar was associated with Vasuki Nag family, while Jana village with Jiv Narayan – and they were bad enemies.
There is also another legend – once upon a time, the army of King Baragar practiced for the battle at the ground near the river bank – they were pulling a thick ‘guun’ (a many layer rope). After some time, the soldiers left the guun on the ground and went to take their food. Suddenly, the guun became alive and turned into a huge wild snake! The snake moved towards the river and tried to cross it to get to the opposite bank – Naggar side. There was a watch keeper at the river bank who attempted to stop it, cut off the tail of the snake with his sword, but still the snake was able to cross the river. On the field near the river there was one dumb man laboring at his patch of land. The snake had captured him. It was a poor fellow’s good luck, that at that very time, Jiv Narayan – devta of Jana village, was passing by and he saw the drama. He swiftly approached the snake and touched it – the very next moment snake collapsed and turned back to the simple guun – rope again.
The guun is the symbol of fight. During this part of festival, people of Naggar and Jana traditionally come together, make a thick guun – from the rice grass and natural rope fibres, and then pull it here and there. They hold it strongly and run with it three times from the upper Naggar down to the lower ground. Obviously, after three runs the guun falls into pieces, and they are being distributed to all participants as a special blessings for the good and prosperous year.
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