Dagaili festival celebrated traditionally in the Keonthal area

The festival of witches, Dagaili, was celebrated last night in Keonthal area as per tradition. Let us tell you that Dagaili is the strangest festival in the series of Teej festivals celebrated in the state. It is celebrated every year on Chaturdashi and Amavasya of Krishna Paksha of Bhadrapad month, one month after Raksha Bandhan festival. This festival is celebrated especially in Shimla, Sirmour, and Solan districts as per ancient tradition. In some areas, it is also celebrated on Krishna Janmashtami. This year, this festival is being celebrated as per tradition in Keonthal area on September 2 and 3.
According to folklore, Dagali is considered to be the festival of witches. On this festival, the demonic powers are fully awakened at night and the witches perform an invisible dance with their art. Let us tell you that Dagali has been considered the most terrifying festival in the past. A few days before this festival, the priests of the local deities go from house to house and give rice and mustard seeds to the deity as a protection circle, which is kept at the main door of the house on the night of Chaturdashi so that the demonic powers do not enter the house. Apart from this, the branches of the Bhekhal bush are also hung on the doors and windows of the temple, house, and cowshed as protection.

On this festival, specially made patties of Arbi leaves which are called dhingade in the local language are made which are cut into four pieces on the first night of Dagali i.e. on the first night of Dagali with a sharp knife or axe on the verandah of the house and then offered on the roof in the name of witches in all the four directions so that the demonic powers cannot cause any harm. Tantrikas say that the night of Dagali is the most suitable time for Sadhna. This Amavasya is called Kushotpatini Amavasya in the scriptures. On this day people uproot kusha for worship and keep it in the house for the whole year which is considered to be of special importance. As soon as the evening of Dagali falls, people hide in the house.
Senior citizens Dayaram Verma and Pritam Singh Thakur said that huge rocks are still present at many places in the area, about which their ancestors used to say that these rocks were brought by witches from some village at night and placed here. This shows the relevance of this festival.