GOTHSI FESTIVAL
short description
Gothsi or Gochi is a festival from the Lahaul/ Spiti region, celebrated by families who had a male child the previous year.dismarker
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Gothsi, also known as Gochi, is a traditional celebration held in the pristine Bhaga valley of the Lahaul region in Himachal Pradesh, honouring newborn sons. The entire community congregates at the sanctuary of Keylong Wazir, the local deity, to observe Gothsi during the month of February. The festival serves as an expression of gratitude to the deity for the birth of all sons in the past year.
On the eve of the festival, a member of the local Kukujee family assumes the role of labdagpa, the priest, adorned in ceremonial attire comprising a traditional robe and cap. He proceeds to perform worship rituals at the sanctuary of Keylong Wazir, wielding a bow and arrow. Following this, he visits each household with newborn sons, referred to as Gochi families. Each Gochi family presents a sheepskin filled with straw, intended to be placed beneath the sacred tree for the duration of the festival.
On the day of Gothsi, the villagers gather together and prepare a sattu (a mixture of roasted cereals and ground pulses, especially Bengal gram) dough. The dough is then taken to the deity on a big plate. They are accompanied by a girl carrying a goblet of chhang (locally brewed beer). Two men, one carrying a burning stick of pencil cedar and the other carrying a bunch of pine branches wrapped in sheepskin, follow the girl. The procession is then joined by the women who gave birth to a son in the previous year, with the infants tied to their backs. They are followed by the women, decked up in traditional attire and adorned with jewellery, carrying chhang.
At the temple, the labdagpa conducts prayers to honour the deity. The sattu dough is subsequently broken and discarded as an offering to pacify the divine forces. Following this, the sheepskins are presented to the deity and pierced with arrows. Once the ritual offerings are completed, a cedar bonfire is ignited, and the community engages in spirited dances to the songs of Lahaul's history and regional folklore. Throughout the night, it is considered inauspicious for cups to remain empty.