STATE TIMES NEWS
BHADARWAH: To observe age-old tradition and to take blessings of Lord Shiva and Parvati while celebrating ‘Kanchouth’ festival, early morning women folk of Bhadarwah and its adjoining areas were seen going towards their respective temples on Monday. The main programmes were reported from Kotli, Ghatha, Khakhal, Gupt Ganga, Chinote and other temples of the area.
The Kanchouth which is particularly for women falls in the month of ending January or February every year.
Like Karwa Chouth that is celebrated in plains, Kanchoth is celebrated in this hilly Bhadarwah area. Both fasting festivals are celebrated by women to pray for long-life of their husbands and in both style is almost same. The only difference is the timing. Where as Kanchouth falls in winters, Karwa Chouth is celebrated during autumn.
According to a woman Geeta Devi of Kotli,on Karwa Chouth women break their fast when the moon appears while in case of Kanchouth the fast is broken after Gouri Pooja during the day.
To celebrate this occasion with full of tradition, ladies dressed in their best suits(mostly red) and ornaments gathered at their nearby water bodies where they perform Pooja and then sing Bhajan and dance one by one.
Ladies also offer ‘Thel'(respect) to one and all, irrespective of creed and caste; age and sex and get in return their blessing ‘Suhagan Bho'(long live your husband).
The ladies are supposed to take food in every house they visit. In some cases it so happens that they have to take their meals in scores of houses each day. In the night ladies gather, sing Ghurai (Bhajan) and dance. During these three days the kitchen is managed by husbands.
While speaking to media some women including Lalta Devi, Janar Devi ,Reva Kotwal, Rekha Devi, Shashi Lata and Shudda Devi informed that this festival is celebrated as anniversary of Shiv-Parvati marriage and like Karwa Chouth women of Bhadarwah fast today to take blessings of Shiv-Parvati and seek long life for their husbands.
