Muslims of Kedar valley actively participate in the Pandav Leelas
Sunday, 25 December 2022 | Gajendra Singh Negi | DEHRADUN
At the time when the communal schism is poised delicately and trivial issues like colour of the clothing of an actress in a movie song elicits debates which further fuels differences between communities, the Muslim families of the Kedarnath valley of Uttarakhand are continuing to follow a unique tradition in what can be termed as an excellent example of communal harmony. These families participate in the local Pandav Leelas with great enthusiasm and fervour along with their Hindu neighbours.
In many villages of Rudraprayag district, the Pandav Leela is being enacted these days in which it is believed that souls of the five Pandavas enter into those participating in the ritual. Holding swords, shields, bows, arrows and Gada (mace) the devotees perform dance for hours together on the hymns which solicit the souls of the Pandavas. These days hundreds of Muslims families of village Dangi located 16 kilometres from Agastyamuni town can be seen actively participating in the rituals and arrangements of Pandav Leela which is being held after an interval of 12 years in the village. Interestingly all the families, even those who have migrated years ago to places like Delhi or Dehradun make it a point to attend the Pandav Leela.
Ummerdeen who works in a government department and resides in Dehradun has arrived in his ancestral village to participate in the Pandav Leela told The Pioneer that participating in the rituals is hundreds of years old tradition and is part of the culture. “There are hundreds of Muslim families who have been residing in the area for centuries with love and cooperation with our Hindu brethren. We are taking the age-old tradition forward,’’ he said. There are many like Shakoor Ahmed who are actively involved in making necessary arrangements for the Pandav Leela.
Mahipal Singh Rawat, a government teacher said that the Kedar valley is an excellent example of communal harmony and brotherhood. Former MLA of Kedarnath Manoj Rawat said that Pandav Leela is performed for about 35 days and dozens of the villages of Kedar valley have preserved the tradition and culture excellently. He said that active participation of Muslim families in the rituals sets an example for others to emulate.
The legend has it that after killing their brothers (Swa Gotras) and Guru Dronacharya in the battle of Mahabharat, the dejected Pandavas went to the Kedar valley in search of inner peace. Later they shed their weapons in the villages here and went to heaven. The villagers believe that the weapons of the Pandavas are needed to be worshiped at regular intervals to ensure prosperity so after every ten or more years the ritual of invoking the souls of Pandavas is performed by the participants wearing traditional attire and when possessed by the deity they perform enchanting dance steps to the beats of traditional Dhol and Damau drums. The dancers enact many episodes from the Mahabharata such as Chakravyuh during the period they are believed to be possessed by supernatural powers.
