The Fascinating Story Behind Hairat (Herath) - The Kashmiri Name for Mahashivratri
Summary:
Mahashivratri is known as Hairat (or Herath) in Kashmir.
This name has an intriguing story behind it related to religious suppression and the triumph of the human spirit over adversity.
In the early 19th century, the Afghan governor Jabbar Khan had banned the celebration of Mahashivratri in Kashmir and ordered Hindus to celebrate the festival in the snow-less month of Ashadha.
Traditionally, Kashmiri Hindus would carve a linga out of snow on Mahashivratri, which was impossible to find in July.
However, that year, it miraculously snowed heavily in Ashadha just in time for Mahashivratri, and the festival was celebrated with great enthusiasm and joy.
The festival came to be known as Hairat (or Herath) in Kashmir, as the word for shock or amazement in Persian is "Hairat."
The people of Kashmir mocked Jabbar Khan with a saying, "Wuchton yih Jabbar, jandah, Haras tih karun wandah," which means "Look at Jabbar the wretch, he turned Hara (Lord Shiva) into snow."
Story behind the name Hairat (or Herath), which is used to refer to Mahashivratri in Kashmir.
Mahashivratri is one of the most celebrated festivals in India, dedicated to Lord Shiva. But did you know that in Kashmir, Mahashivratri is known as Hairat (or Herath)? There is an intriguing story behind this name that is little known outside of the Kashmiri community.
महाशिवरात्रि की हार्दिक शुभकामनाएं।
— True Indology (@TrueIndology) February 18, 2023
Why is #Mahashivratri known as Hairat/Herat in Kashmir? Kashmiri Hindus had a tradition of carving Linga with snow on Shivaratri.
Jabbar Khan,Afghan governor,banned Shivaratri & ordered Hindus to celebrate festival in snow-less Ashadha(July) pic.twitter.com/hTs2FmoQQM
In the early 19th century, Kashmir was under the rule of Afghan governors who were known for their intolerance towards the local Hindu population.
One such governor, Jabbar Khan, had banned the celebration of Mahashivratri and ordered the Hindus to celebrate the festival in the snow-less month of Ashadha, which falls in July.
Traditionally, Kashmiri Hindus would carve a linga (an iconic representation of Lord Shiva) out of snow on Mahashivratri.
However, it is impossible to find snow in the month of July, so the order of Jabbar Khan seemed like a deliberate attempt to suppress the festival.
But then, something miraculous happened. It snowed heavily in Ashadha that year, just in time for Mahashivratri. The Hindus were overjoyed and quickly built their linga out of the fresh snow. The celebration was a huge success, and everyone was amazed that it had snowed in July. In Persian, the word for shock or amazement is "Hairat," and so the festival came to be known as Hairat (or Herath) in Kashmir.
The people of Kashmir were delighted that they had been able to celebrate their festival despite the governor's ban. They even came up with a saying to mock Jabbar Khan: "Wuchton yih Jabbar, jandah, Haras tih karun wandah," which translates to "Look at Jabbar the wretch, he turned Hara (Lord Shiva) into snow."
Interestingly, within eight years of this incident, a general of Maharaja Ranjit Singh named Misr Diwan Chand invaded Kashmir, and Afghan rule came to an end.
The expulsion of the Afghans from Kashmir was a significant event in the region's history, and the story of Hairat remains an important part of Kashmiri folklore.
In conclusion, the story behind Hairat (or Herath) is a fascinating tale of religious suppression and the triumph of the human spirit over adversity.
It is a reminder that no matter how hard someone tries to suppress our traditions and beliefs, we will always find a way to celebrate them. So, on this Mahashivratri, let us remember the story of Hairat and celebrate the festival with even more joy and enthusiasm.
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