Bageshwar is a city and a municipal board in Bageshwar
district in the state of Uttarakhand, India. It is also the administrative
headquarters of Bageshwar district.
Other important shrines in and around Bageshwar are -
Ram Ghat temple, Agnikund temple, Kukuda Mai temple, Shitla Devi temple,
Trijugi Narayan temple, Hanuman temple, Nileshwar Dham, Swarg Ashram, Ramji
temple, Loknath Ashram, Ashram of Amitji, Jwala Devi temple, Veni Mahadev
temple, Radha Krishna temple, Bhileshwar Dham, Suraj Kund, Siddartha Dham,
Gopeshwar Dham, Golu temple and Praktishwar Mahadev.
Geography
Bageshwar
is located at 29.85°N 79.77°E. It has an average elevation of 1,004 m
(3,294 ft).
The nearest airport is at Pantnagar, 180 km
(110 mi) away to the south in Nainital district.
The nearest railhead is Kathgodam, 160 km
(99 mi) away to the south in Nainital district reached via Almora town
(75 km (47 mi)). Tanakpur 230 km (140 mi) away to south-southeast
near the border with Nepal is another railhead.
Places around Bageshwar
Vijaypur 30 km (19 mi): It affords a panoramic view of
the snow-clad Himalayan peaks.
Baijnath 26 km (16 mi): This historical and pilgrimage
site on Gwaldam motor road is set on the banks of river Gomti in Katyuri
valley. It was once the capital of Katyuri dynasty and the ancient temples here
stand in testimony of the erstwhile era. The ancient Shiva temple here is famous
for the magnificent idol of Goddess Parvati. Another important shrine is the
Kotkimai temple, 8 km (5.0 mi) from here.
Pindari Glacier -
Pindari Glacier Trek: The
base camp is at Song which can be reached by road from Bageshwar 36 km (22 mi),
Almora 109 km (68 mi), and Kathgodam 199 km (124 mi). After that one has to
trek 45 km (28 mi) up to zero point (Pindari Glacier). Song to Loharkhet - 3 km
trek Loharkhet to Dhakuri - 11 km Dhakuri to Khati - 8 km Khati to Dwali - 11
km Dwali to Phurkia - 7 km Phurkia to Pindari Glacier - 5 km
Sunderdhunga Glacier- Sunderdhunga or the 'valley of
beautiful stones' is also located in the Pindar region. The glacier offers a
tough trek as compared to Pindari and Kaphini. There are two glacier for
trekkers and nature lovers, namely Maiktoli and Sukhram. The route up to
village Khati is common for both Pindari and Sunderdhunga glacier.
Sunderdhunga Glacier Trek: The
trek length is 54 km (34 mi) from Base Camp at Song. Song to Loharkhet - 3 km
Loharkhet to Dhakuri - 11 km Dhakuri to Kathi - 8 km Kathi to Sundarrfhunga
Glacier - 30 km.
Functions and festivals
The functions and festivals of Kumaun are not only an
expression of the religious social and the cultural urges of the people but
have also sustained the folk culture and have been central to the economic
activities of the people. Also at remotely located places of hilly terrain,
especially where communication is difficult and the land is cut up by mountain
or water, the need is felt for periodical meetings at convenient centers, where
exchange and sale of commodities may take place. A district like Bageshwar
holds many valleys which are absolutely dependent on such meetings for their
supply of common necessaries, and consequently fairs or periodical markets are
numerous. There are two kind of these. The weekly assemblages, corresponding to
"market-day" in an English provincial town, are called "Penth".
They are of an ordinary kind, and have no religious associations. The great
annual fairs are known by the name of "Mela", and are always
connected with religious ideas and customs. They very often center round some
famous local shrine, which reaps an extensive harvest at the annual festival.
Business, pleasure and religion are cheerfully combined in these junketing,
which are doubtless the chief oases in the monotonous lives.. The following
main festivals and functions are observed in Kumaun.
VISHUVATI alias BIKHAUTI Among the twice born citizens
this festival is observed as the day of solstice. This solstice is called Mesh
(ram in form) also; but the Brahmins, Kshatriyas and Shilpkars observe a grand
festival on this day with victuals fried in clarified butter, sweetmeats,
betel-leaves etc. In many places fairs are also held. Pahari (hill dialet)
songs are sung to accompaniment playing of Hurka (small drum like musical
instrument) and people dance. This is an old festival of aboriginals of this
place. On this day fishing is also done and small round cakes of ground pulse
(baras) are also eaten. It has been the practice to smoulder the skin as many
times as the number of 'baras' are eaten. But this practice has been
considerably reduced now. (The smoldering of the stomach with a red hot iron is
called 'tala dalna'). On this day fairs are held in Dwarahat, Syalde, Chaugar
and Lohakhai.
VAT SAVITRI AMAVASYA Women fast on this day. The story
of chaste Savitri and Satyavan is heard on this day. The figures of the dead
Satyavan, Yamraj (the God of death) and eminent jewel among chaste women
Savitri are drwan under a banyan tree and they are worshipped Consecrating the
thread of twelve knots (door), women tie it around their necks.
HARELA Hariyala or the solstice of Karka, 10–11 days
before the solstice of Shravan (July–August), putting soil in bamboo pots etc.
preparing a bed, paddy, maize, horse bean and other grains produced in the
rainy season are sown and this is called Hariyala. It is not put in the Sun. By
doing so the colour of the plants becomes yellow.
HARISHAYANI EKADASHI This is a famous fast. The women
hold the rule of Chatursmasya (the bathing and fasting for months beginning on
the eve of the rainy season) from this day. The fast ends on Haribodhini
(awakening of gods).
SIMHA OR GHRI SANKRANTI The solstice of Simha is also
called olagia. Earlier, during the Chand rule, craftsman fun_1.jpg (12429
bytes)received reward on this day by showing or exhibiting articles of their
crafts and handiwork, and the other people too carried flowers, fruits,
vegetables. Curd, milk, sweets and several kinds of best things to the royal
court or as present for the venerable people. This was known as the rite of
'olag'. This custom resembled the presentation of gifts to the Britishers on
Christmas Day. Even now this festival is celebrated in some majors. So this
solistice is called 'olagia' also. This is called Ghrit' or 'Ghee' (clarified
butter) Sankranti. On this day there is a widespread custom to consume much
Ghee with breads prepared from pounded horse-bean.
SANKASHT CHATURTHI This is the fast and worship of
Ganesh on the fourth day of the dark half of Bhadra (Aug-Sep). Food is taken on
the visibility of the moon after giving chairity by libation in honour of the
deity, moon. This fast is generally undertaken by the women.
HARITALI FAST This fast is kept on the third day of
the dark half of Aug-Sep. Women observe this fast for prosperity and longevity
of their husbands. The Samvedis have their 'Upakarma' in the Hast asterism.
DOORVASHTAMI This fast is held on the eighth of the
bright half of Aug-Sep. making Doorva (agrootislinearis) of gold, silver, silk
etc., consecrating and worshipping it, the women wear it themselves. Prayer to
Doorva Devi is made for gaining prosperity and progency. Food cooked in fire is
prohibited on this day.
NANDA ASHTAMI Beginning from the eighth day of the
bright half of Aug-Sep to the eighth day of the dark half of Sep-Oct, many
devotees do the worship of Laxmi and observe fast. The worship of Nanda Devi
had been continuing in the court of the Chanda kings traditionally with great
pump and show. This is one among the tribal festival of Kumaun. Nanda is the
Ranchandi (Chandi of battle) of Kumaun. The elementary battle incantation here
is 'Jay to Nanda Devi', 'victory to her'. The sacrifice of the buffaloes and
goats is made in her worship. The worship in Almora is even now made with great
splendour and huge fair is held. The descendants of Chands do this worship. In
Nainital late Lala Moti Ram had invited this fair. Fairs are held in Katyur,
Ranikhet and Bhowali also. She is reported to be family deity of the kings of
Kumaun.
KOJAGAR Minor Diwali is observed on the full moon day
of Sep - Oct. The women keep fast. The worship of Laxmi is made in the night.
Diwali lamps are lit. The oblation of 'Pakwan' (pudding) and sweetmeats is made
and then taken by people themselves. The beginning of vice of gambling too
starts from this day.
GHUGHUTIA On this day the sun enters into the tropic
of Capricona. A great fair called Uttaraini is held at Bageshwar. A holy dip is
taken by the masses in rivers at Bageshwar, Rameshwer, Chitrashila and other
places. This festival is also called 'Kale Kauwa' in Kumaun. Flour is kneaded
with 'Gud', then forming a figure of a particular word, Ghuguta, puding is made
and strung into a rosary. Orange and other fruits are also strung in it. These
rosaries are put round the necks of the children. The children, who get up
early in the morning on this very day, call the crows by uttering 'Kale Kauwa
Aa Le, Ghughuti Mala Kha Le'. They take off some pudding from the rosary and
give it to crow to eat. This usage is not seen anywhere else except in Kumaun.
It appears to be an old festival of this region.
UTTARAINI FESTIVAL One of the largest fair of Kumaun
region, the Uttraini festival of Bageshwar, is organized in the month of
January for a period of one week and is frequented by Almora traders, on barter
or money lending intent, and by the Bhotiyas from the snows, as well as by a
great multitude of people from the surrounding villages. The chief articles of
merchandise are: ponies, goats, sheep, furs, yak tails, musk pods, borax, salt
horns, books, shoes, fruit dried and fresh. The Bhotiyas bring down excellent
ponies, which breed in a wild or semi-wild state over the Tibetan border.
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