Jagar Ritual

Jagar is a ritualized method of worshipping the 33 koti Devi Devta that is performed in Uttarakhand's
hills, both in Kumaon and Garhwal. Jagar is a rite in which gods and local deities are awakened from
their slumber and requested for blessings or cures. The rite is associated with the concept of divine
justice and is performed to offer penance for a crime or to seek divine justice for any injustice. The word
Jagar is derived from the Sanskrit root Jaga, which means "to awaken."

Music is the means by which the gods are summoned. The poet, or Jagariya, sings a ballad of the gods
with allusions to great epics such as the Mahabarata or Ramayana, which depict the adventures and
exploits of the god being invoked. Jagar singing has evolved over time into a much-loved art form,
whose practitioners are often lauded as living heritage.

These practices are part of Folk Hinduism, which has coexisted with orthodox Hinduism and is widely
practiced in the Himalayas. The harsh life in the Himalayas and daily sensitivity to the whims of nature
sparked a deep belief in paranormal activity and a plethora of folk gods, who were revered and
respected. Per village had its own deity, known as Bhumyal or Kshetrapal, who guarded its borders. Per
family has a Kul Devta or Kul Devi. There were also a plethora of other benevolent demigods and
goddesses who could praise humans, as well as evil spirits who could torture people.

These beliefs are related to shamanic customs used in ancient rituals all over the world. While most of
these deities have been forgotten or absorbed into monotheistic rites, Hinduism has strong kuladevata
traditions that have enabled the Jagar tradition to flourish in India and Nepal. The isolation of the
Kumaon and Garhwal due to the Himalayas, in particular, facilitated the rise of local religious practices,
which are now high in these regions alongside mainstream Hinduism.

Jagar ceremonies are classified into three categories. The first is the Dev Jagar, or deity invocation,
which normally involves local gods possessing the medium's body. The Bhut Jagar, or invocation of a
dead person's spirit or soul in the medium's body, is the second. Masan Puja is another less commonly
performed form.

Jagar is now regarded as a cultural and musical part of local heritage that must be preserved. The ritual
is still highly worshipped, especially in rural areas and in New Delhi. Since many Kumauni and Gadwali
live in Delhi and are unable to travel to villages for Jagar every year, they have started Jagar in Delhi.