Shimla, January 3, 2025
A grand religious event, the Bhunda Ceremony, is being held in Dalgaon, a remote village in the Rohru sub-division of Shimla district, after a 40-year gap. This traditional festival, dedicated to appeasing Bakralu Devta (deity) for blessings, commenced on January 2 and will continue until January 5.
The ceremony began with thousands of devotees gathering at the temple of Bakralu Devta. Preparations for the event had been underway for several months, with an estimated five lakh devotees expected to attend the festival at this remote location.
The celebration features the participation of local deities, including Bakralu Devta, Bondra Devta from Kui village, Maheshwar Devta from Samarkot and Morish Devta from Ratnari , all accompanied by thousands of villagers.
Highlight of the Festival: The Beda Ceremony
The most notable ritual of the Bhunda festival is the Beda Ceremony. A local artisan from the Beda community slides down a steep hill on a rope made from grass (munj), which has been soaked in oil for months to ensure its strength. This rope is specially prepared for the occasion.
The Bhunda Narmedh Mahayajna is a significant cultural and religious tradition in Shimla and Kullu districts. Historically, British writers referred to the Beda Ceremony as a form of “human sacrifice” due to incidents where participants sliding down the rope faced accidental deaths.
Sequence of Events
A resident of the Rohru area shared insights into the festival:
- Day 1 (January 2): Worship and ceremonies were conducted in the temple of Bakralu Devta, with villagers carrying palanquins of their local deities to the temple.
- Day 2: Offerings, including animals (primarily goats), were made to Bakralu Devta. Shikha Pheri, a ritual where oracles draw a line around the area to ensure peace and prosperity, was performed.
- Day 3 (January 4): The highlight, the Beda Ceremony, will take place. The artisan sliding down the rope will be felicitated by the oracles after the ritual.
- Day 4 (January 5): The festival concludes with farewells, blessings, and prayers for the well-being and prosperity of all attendees.
This traditional celebration not only reflects the rich cultural heritage of the region but also brings together communities from across Shimla district, reinforcing the spiritual and cultural bonds among them.