Excelsior Correspondent
BHADERWAH, Oct 30: Six month long annual Nag festival season also known as ‘Jatlaaz’ finally culminated here today.
Jatlaaz-a symbol of Nag culture, is a rotational night time celebration and is observed in all the villages across Chenab valley on different days on a particular date every year.
The pre winter festival which marks the end of Nag festive season, after which the Kewars (doors) of all the Nag temples barring Nagni Mata are closed and deities are completely draped in traditional silk clothes only to be opened next year on the eve of Baisakhi festival.
Hundreds of Nag devotees converged at Karie hamlet of Chinta Valley and Thubba village simultaneously from middle of the night to celebrate Malcha festival and offer traditional prayers to Subar Nag deity before saying goodbye till Baisakhi festival next year.
“Chinta valley is one of the most revered places of this region and has a lot of significance in ancient Nag culture as season’s first festival with the opening of 600 year old ancient Subar Nag Temple on 12th April starts from here and today on 30th of October with Malcha, we are celebrating last festival of the season. We are proud of our culture and for all of us it is a prize possession,” said Ankush Kotwal, local priest.
“Malchai is not only unique but an ancient festival and has got all the ingredients which can attract tourists in a major way but surprise neither administration nor BDA has ever tried to showcase this to the outer world. Hopefully some sense will prevail among them and they will include this event in their annual calendar,” said Santosh Sharma, head priest of Malcha.
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