Miscreants set fire to temporary sheds of buffalo herders and reduced them to ashes

Four residential sheds of buffalo herders were reduced to ashes last week by miscreants, set on fire by miscreants at Kawalia Peak, located at an altitude of approximately 8,000 feet near Junga. It should be noted that cattle herders from Peeran and Satlai, the village panchayats at the far end of Mashobra block, live temporarily in these sheds for six months with their buffaloes.
Buffalo herder Jabar Singh Thakur explained that these residential sheds were about five decades old, where his ancestors used to live temporarily. The roofs of these sheds were made of grass and wood. He explained that they will now have to rebuild their sheds for living next April. He explained that transporting construction materials to the peak is a difficult task. Miscreants have caused trouble by setting fire to the sheds built by his ancestors. He fears that many tourists and other visitors to the peak may have burned these sheds.
He explained that this peak also houses an ancient temple dedicated to Kavaliya Devta, considered the deity of cattle herders. Thanks to his grace, this peak is free from the fear of predators like tigers and leopards. Most importantly, the temporary sheds of buffalo herders in Kavaliya are free of doors. Thanks to the deity’s grace, there is no fear of theft.
It should be noted that cattle herders from across the region take their buffaloes to Kawalia Peak every year in April and May and return home in October and November. Buffaloes and other cattle roam freely on this peak. Herders milk the buffaloes in the evening and morning, leaving them to graze outdoors. This process continues for about six months. He explained that every year during the month of October, a procession dedicated to the Kawalia deity is held, attended by people from across the region. On this occasion, buffalo milk kheer is prepared as a feast for the deity’s worship.