There are four important days in the month of Ashada, called Haar in
Kashmiri. The seventh day of the bright fortnight is called Hara Satam. On this day, the courtyard,
the front door and the gallery called the Vuz are decorated with Hara Mandul - a round design made
of multicolour powders. This is to greet the goddess who is expected to grace our houses by her
presence. It may be recalled that similar designs are made on the occasion of the weddings and the
yajnopavit to greet the bride and the groom and the children who have gone through the Upanayan
samskara. The nomenclature is different. These are called the Vyuga. The decoration made on these
occasions on the front gates is also picturesque and is known as Krule.
The Kashmiri community is predominantly Shaivite and, therefore, worship Shiva and Shakti. They
are grouped into three groups according to their affiliation to three different forms of the Goddess,
Maharajna, Sharika and jwala. The three shrines for them are situated at Tula Mula, Hari Parbat in
Srinagar and the hill at the village Khrew respectively. It is noteworthy that all the three festivals
for these forms of the Divine Mother are held in the month of Ashada. On ashtami is the festival of
Tula Mula. On navami is the festival at Chakreshwara, Hari Parbat and on Chaturdashi it is at Khrew
to worship Goddess jwala. |
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