Dharkot

25^th may 2010

Hang on to tight, the door sometimes flings open at turns— the driver was not smiling when he warned me at the start of the journey.

The pool-in cabs that ply between the villages in the area, don’t leave at a fixed time…they leave when the cab (mahindra max) is full. (12 passengers)

Kalpana and Mamta

On the road to Gangotri, 10 km out of Chamba is the village of Dharkot. Kalpana, the local correspondent’s directions were simple. Get off at Dharkot, its on the highway and ask anyone for Kalpana’s house. Everyone knows me. It was really that simple to find her house. After spending a day with her I am not surprised that she is such a popular girl. An active member of a street theatre group that dealt with issues like female foeticide, Kalpana has also been a reporter for Henvalvani.

Returning from the fields some women were invited to Kalpana’s house.

Discussing alternative methods of healing..

Back in the days…we never needed the doctors or their medicines. We ate well and we hardly ever fell unwell. But now the crops are failing and the climate is changing. We are eating pesticides now….. new diseases are plaguing mankind.

For snake, spider, scorpion, insect bites .. we have to visit a jhara(witch doctor). They know special spells and have special herbs to take away the sting.

And when nature and science both fail we seek the help of Surkanda Mata (the goddess and protector of the region).

A short walk (2km) along the highway from Dharkot is Kirgani.

We went there to meet Janaki Devi, Janaki is one amongst a number of women who get possessed by the goddess. She is very popular. Every Sunday she allows the goddess to speak through her body and the many believers who show up at her doorsteps offer rice and 11 rupees to the goddess who solves their problems.

Janaki Devi

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~ by radiokhirkee on 25/05/2010.