” Kaat ayee bolo bhai chokro kaat ayee..”

…We have cut the strings of your kite, come on boys lets celebrate it!…

The streets of Nahan town are full of such shrieks on the day of Rakshabandhan. Rakhi is celebrated in Nahan of District Sirmaur, Himachal Pradesh with colorful kites. On this day sisters tie the pious knot of trust, love and blessings on their brothers hand and in return brothers secure the girls of a safe and loving time ahead. After this ceremony, all the boys from town are seen on their rooftop with their colorful kites and charkhis.

I still remember when I was a kid I used to hold the charkhi for my brother while he used to fly his kite. One thing I remember the most about this whole season is, that me and my brother used to be really crazy for kites and the strings. We used to color the string our self by mixing glass powder with color and ararot. No matter how our mum used to scold us, it used to be our goal to make the best strings. Well, those days are gone now. Presently boys go for ready made strings and market is not as deluged as it used to be with colorful kites.

Now even the kite makers who come from Ambala mourn the decline of interest of youth in such a lovely sport. Now a days video games, computer and cell phones have taken place of such outdoor sports. But even today on the day of Rakhi, all the boys of Nahan town come back home and I can still hear them screaming form their roof on the top of their voice, “Kaat ayee bolo bhai chokro kaat ayee….” Happy Rakhi….

Images:

Hindu/Mbdoctor/Smugmug/Todo

Lakh Data Peer Nahan

Nahan founded by Maharaja Karam Prakash in 1621 is now a charming town and Distt head quarter of Sirmaur. It was once princely state and has heritage buildings and one of the oldest municipalities in the country. Its beauty and climate can mesmerize any one and it is a very old saying that once you visit this town you will fall in love with it.

It is also believed that Nahan was once cursed by a dancing girl which resulted in flood and total destruction. At that time a wise man of Maharaja suggested him to get two bricks and some mud from the turbut of Lakhdata Peer of Multan now in Pakistan.

“It was around 250 years back when the bricks and mud from Multan were laid in Nahan near Pucca Tank later the dargah was made. Since then generation by generation my family is serving the lakho ke data Lakhdata, says bobby khan who is the priest of the dargah.

It is a regular stop over of tourists coming to the town and the local residents. Every Thursday people visit lakhdata Peer. He has some supernatural powers of arbitration people visit him in the hope their wishes will be fulfilled His blessings and magical powers are well known among people.

According to Namita, Manavta , Shelja and Meenakshi ,local residents of Nahan Lakhdata Peer has always helped us whenever in dilemma. When you come to this place you feel tranquil and blessed that’s why whatever the weather is we never forget to come to this place.

The place has so many stories related to it and as Bobby Khan the priest tells one:

“Around 250 years ago when the town was more like a forest with two or three prominent places, once the two prince of the town were going for hunting and both of them stopped the drum beaters of the dargah both of them felled and their limbs were broken all the hakims and vaids failed to cure them.

“Then the Maharani of Nahan town went to Lakhdata Peer for help and said she will offer churi that is baked roti crushed with jaggery and construct the place into a dargah when she returned back to her palace both the prince were fighting fit and she thanked the Peer and ordered to construct the turbut i.e. shrine of the peer and it took just two days to build. Since then people not only from town but nearby places come to Lakhdata Peer” tells, Bobby Khan.

People come with their problems and are blessed by the peer “If you have some skin problem salt is given as niaj, that is offering made to god, if you have any problem in limbs baked and crushed roti with gur or jaggery is offered, broom and oil are niaj for any problem that you have, couples without a child offer gur

“and red cloth unmarried people tie holy thread near the pole of the dargah and they are blessed with spouse even the barren lands become fertile by the blessing of the Peer if chinj, local wrestling is performed in that land.” said Gafur father of Bobby Khan.

“Lakhdata Peer was a holy man from Multan who is also called by various names in different places. In Punjab he is called Lala Wale Peer, in Pakistan Sakhi Sarver. He was very close to Allah and is believed to have supernatural powers to bless people who come for help” he further added.