Excelsior Correspondent
BHADARWAH, Jan 30: Jhinjoli or Dhundhu-Kundu-the age old ritual to remember ancestors, particularly in ancient Nag culture practised in Bhadarwah region was celebrated by hundreds of Nag followers across Bhadarwah.
Noted Nag follower, Master Tek Chand, 90, of village Hanga said: “This is a night ritual and since early in the morning all the family members prepare the specially designed wooden torches made only of local Kail wood, we believe that spirits of our ancestors come to warm themselves and give us blessings that is why we call them loudly while rotating the wooden torches in air.”
Durga Devi, 37, from village Hanga said: “On Deepawali we lit our houses with earthen lamps to celebrate the return of Lord Rama from exile but here we light wooden torches to call the departed souls of our family.”
According to a local belief the ancestors ascend down from heaven to bless their dear ones on this day.
Another local said after night long rituals of burning and rotating wooden torches ‘Jhinjoli’ while calling the spirits in wee hours, all the torches are thrown at a huge fire which symbolises that the evil is also burnt in the fire.