The Jagroo Ritual: Culmination of Kailash Yatra and Heart of Bhaderwah’s Jattle Festivals

Today, on the 3rd of September 2024, which corresponds to Bhadrapada Shukla Pratipada, the ‘Jagroo’ ritual will be held in the compound (Dramman) of Shri Vasuki Nag Temple (Mool Sathaan) in Gatha. Tomorrow, it will be held at Darbar Sathaan Temple Vasakdehra. This event marks the culmination of the Kailash Yatra / Kun Jattle. Before delving into the Jagroo ritual, it’s important to discuss Jattle/Jattar, one of the region’s most anticipated festivals.

In Bhaderwah, almost every village has its own Nagdevta, and nearly every Nag Deity has an annual fair known as ‘Jattle’ in Bhadarwahi and ‘Jattar’ in Dogri. The term appears to be the Bhadarwahi version of “Yatra” for a festival. (Kalhana in Rajatarangini also mentions the Yatra festival of Takshashila).

The Jattle festival season begins with Gorh Jattle on Shravan Shukla Chaturdashi and continues for the next two months. Each village is assigned a specific date (Tithi) according to the lunar calendar for celebrating their Jattle. The Jattle of each village or group of villages has its unique name, such as Gorh, Hiraee, Baraee, Bhol, Dhol, Magh, Chhat, Itleyu, Rutlan, Shadu, Malcha and others. These festivities are held during the rainy season when farmers get a break from their hard work. It’s a time for unwinding, fun, frolic, merry-making and family gatherings. It is enjoyment during the day but Nag worship at night.

On the night of Jattle, after dinner, everyone in the village including hosts, guests, men, women, and children, all dressed in their festive attire, carry firewood torches (Mashaal) and proceed to the open ground of the village, usually near the Nag temple. All the ‘mashaals’ brought from each household are gathered into a large heap forming a bonfire or campfire. This bonfire is known as ‘Jagroo’. The holy mace (Charhi), tridents (Trishul), the string of brass bells (Dallab), and other symbols of Nagdevta are brought from the temple and placed near the Jagroo by the ‘Chelas’. The literal meaning of Jagroo, however, is ‘to stay awake,’ and it is held at night, likely due to the nocturnal nature of the snakes.

To appease Nagdevta, express gratitude for good fortune, and seek His blessings, people perform a local lyrical dance called ‘Dheku’ around the Jagroo throughout the night. This dance is also referred to as ‘Kodd’. This dance form involves a large group of people forming a circle or multiple concentric circles, dancing in unison to the music of traditional instruments like the dhol, narsingha, flute, bells etc., played by traditional musicians known as ‘Bijentries’. The dancers move their feet and arms rhythmically back and forth in time with the drum beats, focusing on elegance, harmony, and balance. The dance progresses through three stages, similar to a classical raga’s vilambit, madhyam, and drut laya. It begins with a slow rhythm called ‘Ikehru Dhekku’ (single dheku), which gradually speeds up to Lastan. It finally reaches a climax with very fast drum beats and vigorous body movements. The performance is interspersed with lines of folk songs. In the recent past, dancers during ‘Dheku’ wore traditional attire, including a white pattu (woollen) long coat, tight trousers (ghutanna), a black waist-band (Kamarband), and an orange turban (Pugree), though this is now a rare sight. The group dance around the fire is a tradition seen worldwide in tribal societies, from Africa to Latin America.

At dawn, the chelas don garlands of bells around their necks and become possessed by Nagdevta. They tremble and dance vigorously to the intense beat of drums, delivering predictions for the coming year on behalf of the Deity. In this state of ecstasy, known as ‘Grihini’ and ‘Bhaar’, the chelas are also approached by devotees seeking remedies for various personal or community issues, and guidance on how to ward off evil spirits.

During Grihini, the chela walks through a heap of live coals from the Jagroo, scattering them in all directions with his feet—a ritual known as “Jagroo Bhannana,” which literally means “Breaking the Jagroo.” This ceremony marks the conclusion of the Jattle festival in that village, similar to how the Olympic flame is extinguished at the end of the Olympic Games.

Author: Dharam Kant Dogra