Once-in-12-year festival starts in Kalikot

By Premraj Simkhada,Kalikot,Feb.1: A religious fair has started at Galje of Jabitha, in Tilagufa Municipality Ward No. 6, Kalikot district. The fair is organised once in every 12 years on the banks of the Tila River. 

The festival has its roots in an ancient belief that a woman named Satya Devi had gone Sati (a practice whereby a widow immolated herself on the funeral pyre of her husband) after the death of her husband but later got incarnated as the ‘Mahashakti’.  

According to the Mahendra Bahadur Shahi, Deputy Mayor of Tilagufa Municipality, once upon a time, there were two brothers named Samburaja (elder) and Aangaraja. 

The younger brother was stronger than the elder. 

The stronger brother would harass his brother, and keep him shackled at times. The former never allowed the latter to work the field and plant rice in the monsoon season. 

Due to the lack of paddy seeds, the elder brother had planted jackfruit, goes the folklore. 

Faced with untold pain and sufferings, Samburaja died suddenly. His wife Satya Devi watched his funeral process standing on a big rock by the Tila River in shock. Heartbroken, she immolated herself on the funeral pyre on return of those attending the funeral. But a few days later, she took a form of goddess.  

“A woman whose face resembled Satya Devi started appearing on road, water sources, and agriculture field. 

Those who saw her died immediately. Terrified, people thought that their village was witnessing the wrath of Satya Devi. In an attempt to placate her, they started a tradition of worshipping Satya Devi. This is how the practice of celebrating the festival began on the embankment of Tila River,” he said.     

Ambar Bahadur Shahi, a local, said that every year they perform special worship and organise weeklong fair in 12 years from February 29 to March 4 (Magh 15 to Magh 21). 

There is also a practice of fixing a wooden bridge over the Tila River once in every 12 years so that Satya Devi could cross the river unhindered during the festival.