TodayTools

Donate

About Ghughutiya

00 days

About Ghughutiya

Ghughutiya is how Kumaon in Uttarakhand celebrates Makar Sankranti, in mid January, when the Sun begins its journey north. The day is also called Uttarayani, and the big Uttarayani fair is held at Bageshwar, where the Saryu and Gomti rivers meet.

The night before, families knead flour with jaggery and shape it into little birds, drums, swords, flowers and other shapes, then fry them in ghee or oil. These sweets are called ghughute. Mothers string them with oranges and peanuts into garlands for the children.

Next morning the children wear their ghughute garlands and go out to call the crows: "Kale kale, ghughuti mala kha le", come crow, come and eat my ghughuti garland. The first sweets go to the birds, and the children eat the rest with great joy.

People also take a holy dip in rivers, visit the Bagnath temple in Bageshwar and enjoy the fair, with folk songs, dances and stalls of hill crafts. Kumaoni families far from home still fry ghughute and call the crows on their balconies.

How people celebrate Ghughutiya

  • Frying ghughute sweets of flour and jaggery
  • Garlands of ghughute, oranges and peanuts for children
  • Calling the crows with "Kale kale"
  • A holy dip in the Saryu and other rivers
  • The Uttarayani fair at Bageshwar
  • Folk songs and jhoda dances

How to wish well

  • "Kale kale" is the call to the crows; a playful wish with it will make Kumaoni friends smile.
  • Ghughutiya is on Makar Sankranti, so you can wish for both together.
  • Wishes for children and their ghughute garlands are a sweet touch.
  • In some homes the sweets are made the evening before, so wishes can go out on the eve too.

Questions about Ghughutiya

When is Ghughutiya?

On Makar Sankranti in mid January. In some parts of Kumaon the sweets are made on the eve and the crows are called on the morning of Sankranti. The date for each year is shown on this page.

What are ghughute?

Little fried sweets made of wheat flour and jaggery, shaped like birds, drums, swords and flowers, and strung into garlands.

Why are crows fed on Ghughutiya?

Children offer the first ghughute to the crows as a welcome to the new season and a sign of care for all creatures. Folk tales also tell of a crow that helped a young prince.

What is Uttarayani?

Uttarayani is the start of the Sun's journey north on Makar Sankranti. The Uttarayani fair at Bageshwar is the biggest fair of Kumaon.

What do children sing on Ghughutiya?

They call "Kale kale, ghughuti mala kha le", which means come crow, come and eat my ghughuti garland.

Where is Ghughutiya celebrated?

In the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand, and by Kumaoni families living across India.

Keep exploring

Related

Coming up next

    All festival wishes

    Donate