Uttaranchal Online

Hill Jatra is a distort “Hal (Plough) Jatra”. Hill Jatra simply means the adoration (worshipping) of Hal (Plough) which good crop yield. In this context the Hill Jatra which is celebrated in Pithoragarh has prominent place.

In 15th Century during the regime of Chand King a four member delegation comprising of Mahar brothers from Pithoragarh reached Nepal to participate in “Indra Jal” festival. Mahar brothers won the festival by their intelligence and bravery. After that they reached Pithoragarh with all the material used in the festival as inward. Kumour brothers founded “Bin Jakhani”, “Chassar”, “Kumour” villages and started celebrating the “Indra Jal” festival of Nepal every year in the month of Bhadrapad on "goura mahesh" departure day Hill Jatra .

Even today religious Anushathan is celebrated with all equipment worshipping material and masks obtained from "Indra Jala Fastival" in Nepal tradition with "Srave Bhavantu Sukhina Srave Santu Niramaya" theme with traditional and fervor in Pithoragrah.
The main character of Hill Jatra is "Lakhia Bhoot" which is originated from the Jata of angry Lord Shiva after the "Bhashama" of "Gauri" in the YashKund of her father Prajapati. So Lakhia Bhoot is also called "Lateshwer". Lakhia is worshiped as "Bhumiya" god is Kumour village. so to keep him elated villagers has a provision of sacrifice at the end of festival .

Beside this the center of attraction of Hill Jatra is white clothed deer which is worshipped as regional god. Old, child, lata, lati, farmer, women and Galiaya ox. too are forces to take cognizance of.
In presenting “Hill Jatra” Lakhia Bhoot is exhibited as con trolled by two body gaurds and the controlled energy is used for genuine purposes is the main theme.