*Khyachi Mavas*

This is also known as Yaksha amavasya. In other words, the last day of the dark fortnight of ‘Paush’ dedicated to the ‘Yaksha’, which again appears to refer to some tribe of a broad class of nature spirits, that lived there before the rishis.

On this day a special dish of moong mixed with rice is prepared in the evening and is served to the Yaksha on an improvised plate made of dry grass. The plate is placed on the top of the compound wall. The kitchen mortal is placed on a grass ring, worshipped as a symbol of the cosmos and decorated with sindoor, sandal, raw rice and flowers.

During childhood we were told that the Yaksha would be wearing a red cap while partaking of this Khichdi and whosoever is able to snatch away this cap will get riches. So all the children would be eager to get hold of this cap, which eluded everyone.

These are the festivals which apparently were held to satisfy the demands of these  aborigines and tribesmen. Festivals like Kyech Mavas, Gada Bhatta etc is an agreement that was arrived at by the demi-god and the humans. Kashmir, in the hoary past, was inhabited by the Nagas as is vouched by Nila in his Nilmat Purana and Kalhana in his Rajatarangini.

The pious and compassionate Rishis did not neglect the nagas, yakshas, kinnar and rakshasas who were living in this land. They made arrangements to satisfy their needs and requirements from time to time. This gave rise to certain peculiar customs and festivals like Kyech Mavas.

The Sanatan Dharma allows, in addition to the prescribed rituals in accordance with the tenets of the Vedas, observance of additional customs called Lokachar, Deshachar or Gramachar peculiar to the nature and environment one may be living in.

*#KilamsCorner*