Tilli Glow

 

Embedded in this landscape are festivities such as Shaboh which Buguns use to mark the different seasons. When leaves are shed, and animals hibernate in January, the Shaboh Rua puja wishes these animals well. When the winter subsides and new leaves emerge, the Sassi Shaboh puja is performed in March-April as insects begin to become more active. And finally the biggest of all Shaboh is Mu-thong Shaboh in August-September, when maize is about to be harvested. Here the priest and his assistants sit with their backs’ to the crowd and face the holy mountain of Chharit, adjacent to Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary. Maize is mounted on the altar and when the puja ends attendees are eager to know about predictions about rain or whether there will be any accidents in the village.