M A I N   N E W S

‘Bhera’ performs feat to propitiate deity
Tribune News Service

Shimla, December 25
It was amidst beating of dhol-nagaras that Kanwar Singh safely crossed the 350-long grass rope as over 50,000 people who were assembled in Bachhunch village to witness the “bhunda mahayajna” watched with bated breath.

Being held after a span of 70 years, the mahayajna is organised to propitiate the local deity, who protects the locals and helps bring prosperity in the area. Even though safety nets are tied below the six-inch grass rope, which is made by the person who performs this feat himself, maintaining balance at a height of almost 400 feet is an arduous task.

The family of Kanwar Singh, who risked his life to please the local deity by sliding on the rope tied from one end to the other over a nullah, was the most relieved as he reached the other end safely at about 3.30 pm within 15 seconds. Prior to this he was brought to the Bondra devata temple seated atop the palanquin of the deity.

The entire are, where the Bhunda was performed, was filled with people who perched themselves atop trees, hillocks or whatever little space they could find.

Then family of Kanwar Singh has dutifully performed this age old custom for generations and he became a “bhera” (the one who risks his life) for the third time. He has successfully performed this feat at Nandla in 1990 and Kulgaon in 1995.

As Kanwar Singh undertook the slide on the grass rope, the beating of the dhola-nagaras (musical instruments) intensified. He sat on the wooden plank, fastened onto the rope wearing a shroud, meant to be a coffin cloth. To maintain balance he had two bags of sand tied to his legs.

As Kanwar Singh achieved this feat, his wife Bimla decked up like a bride, along with her two sons and a daughter and other family members, heaved a sigh of relief. Though before the historic event she said she was confident that nothing would happen to her husband as he was doing this for the devata, the relief on her face was more than visible.

Kanwar Singh, who says it is an honour to be chosen for this task, will be given Rs 35,000 for being the “bhera”. Notwithstanding the risk involved in being a “bhera”, Kanwar Singh’s 12-year-old son, too, wants to follow the family tradition.