Savour the Flavour of Kumaon
and have been passed on for generations through word of mouth. Sadly I can barely speak
Kumaoni as a language (though I understand it) but the stories I heard from my
grandmother and parents remain as memories.
being the festival of Makar Sankranti which in the local language is called as Kaale Kauva
(Black Crow) or Ghugutia. Sweets made from jaggery and flour are strung into a garland
and offered to the crows. The ladies of the house make the sweets in various shaped like
swords, dumroo, and rhombus and make a garland of sweets, peanuts and oranges which
the children carry outdoors and offer to the crows while singing a rhyme.
from my grandmother:
the King will be killed by a crow on the day of Makar Sankranti. This upset the king very
much. He first thought of killing every crow in the land but he knew it was not the right way
to deal with the problem. His court advisors gave him an idea. They worked out a scheme
to keep the crows busy on Sankranti.
sweets with Gud (jaggery) and flour in large numbers. On the day fateful day, people had to
offer the sweets in large numbers to the crows flying across the kingdom.
delicious sweets that none ventured near the royal palace. Thus King Ghuguti was saved
and every year on Sankranti it became a tradition to offer sweets to the Black Crow.
never wanted to share the sweets with the crow! Now days with the crows hardly visible in
big cities, most of the sweets are devoured by squirrels and the abundant Myna.
My father, a man of science, explained the scientific connotation behind the story of Kaale
Kauva.
hills – crow being the first one. The offering during this festival is a mark of welcoming the
migratory birds back. Secondly during peak winters, after snow fall in the hills hardly any
food is available in the forests for birds. Through such customs people are encouraged to
offer food to the birds.
grandmother. It is the story behind our surname – Lohani.
Havan (holy fire). Lohumi means one who can do Hom/Havan using iron.
wanted to meet the King who was known for his wisdom and generosity and ask him for a
piece of land and wood to perform their prayers peacefully. Alas, the guards at the kingdom
gates were not so wise. Instead of helping the needy they made fun of the Purohits.
do they need wood for havan, they might as well use the soldier’s swords. Saying this, the
soldiers threw their swords towards the visitors. The Purohits collected the swords and
much to the surprise of the guards; lit the holy fire using iron swords instead of wood. When
the King heard of the incident he invited the purohits apologized and offered them a piece
of land in his kingdom. This particular group of Brahmins and their kin were bestowed with
the title of Lohumi – One who can light fire from iron.
booster.