Excelsior Correspondent
Bhaderwah, Oct 22: Two month long Nag festival season also known as ‘Jatlaaz’ in local language, which starts immediately after Raksha Bandhan, today culminated traditionally with age old Malcha festival today morning which is celebrated in Chinta Valley of Jammu and Kashmir’s Bhaderwah since centuries.
The pre winter festival marks the end of Nag festive season and after which the Kewars (doors) of all the Nag temples barring Nagni Mata are closed and deities are completely draped in traditional silk clothes. The same are opened next year on the eve of Baisakhi festival.
Jatlaaz-a symbol of Nag culture, is a rotational night time celebration and is observed in all the villages across erstwhile Doda district on different days on a particular date.
This year Jatlaaz started on 21st August from village Manthla of Bhadarwah and after being celebrated in different villages on different dates, today ended with Malcha festival, where beside locals of Chinta valley, people from different villages and Bhadarwah town also gathered to mark the culmination of festive season.
After night long celebrations, where locals along with half a dozen priests known as Chelaaz gathered around the sacred fire place (Zagru) and performed traditional Dekho dance till dawn. At 4 am, the priests along with some selected locals trekked to hill top Nag Temple at Manthla and after taking the blessings of serpent god came back to Chinta, where hundreds of devotees were waiting for them to take blessings.
The priests wearing ancient ornaments depicting traditional Nag culture crossed the fire place bare-footed among the Nag chants and religious hymns.
Meanwhile, the locals alleged that despite being one of the oldest and unique festival, neither administration nor Bhadarwah Development Authority (BDA) has ever tried to project it to the outer world to make it a tourist attraction.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
