Theog

Nagodhar top

Himanshu Khagta — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 19:55:59 +0000

Photo By : Ashish Verma

Reflection

Himanshu Khagta — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 19:55:40 +0000

Reflection

Originally uploaded by greeneyes!!

Unexplored Himachal

Himanshu Khagta — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 19:55:15 +0000

Unexplored Himachal

Originally uploaded by greeneyes!!

Kanag

Himanshu Khagta — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 19:54:47 +0000

Kanag(Unexplored Himachal)

Originally uploaded by greeneyes!!

Fairs & Festivals

Himanshu Khagta — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 18:59:34 +0000

People celebrate every festival with fun and frolic and with traditional celebrations.Whether it’s navratras,holi,deepwaali each festival holds an equal importance in people’s lives.

Mahashivratri is one of the holy festivals celebrated in Phalguna (feburary) and it’s celebrations are among the most spectacular. People worship Pashupati (shiva) and it’s a festival which has become one the important festivals of people of theog and is not less compared to Deewali. It is believed that this festival is being awaited eagerly by aged people, for this festival is an addition of one more year to their life . Chandwa is made by tying the Paja sticks for worshipping purposes. Pakwans are the cakes fried in oil made in large quantities. A very famous tradition is carried out in theog where pakwans are put into a Kilta and carried round from the household, to all relatives and married daughters.The folk songs are sung on the auspicious occasion which include the praises of Shiva Parvati.

“jal thal dharni guuae niare,naz guru avatare
nahi thi dharti ,nahi thi akash,
nahi theo mero kamlash
nahi thiae pon, nahi thiae pani,”

Fairs, as means of recreation are very famous in theog. Deewali Fair which is one of the famous fairs recognised at other places also. Karyala is famous for it’s excellence in plays. Apart from this Bhishu fair is being celebrated and also the social fairs like independence day. One of the very important event is the Summer Festival of Theog which has acquire a state importance.

People and Population

Himanshu Khagta — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 18:53:41 +0000

As of 2001 India census. Theog had a population of 3754. Males constitute 57% of the population and females 43%. Theog has an average literacy rate of 80%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 83%, and female literacy is 77%. In Theog, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age.

The population consists mainly of hindus, the native paharis whose origin is said to be of kannet (khashiye) rajputs. People mainly have adopted Verma, Rekta, Heta, Shelu, Chauhan, Thakur as their surnames. People mainly are indulged in agriculture and main cash crops are cabbage, apple, cauliflower, potato, capsicum etc. Animal rearing is one of the main occupations of people.

Dress Code :

Men : Kurta payjamas, loiyaa, mozze, bushehri topi.
Women : Simple kurti salwaar, dhartoo(head scarf), jackets.

It’s a common custom in pahari family that they inherit jewellery from their mothers and mother-in laws (gokhroo, kantali, baraagar, nath, tika, kangan)

Tourism
As such there’s nothing special that supports tourism but altogether theog is an outstanding place for flaura and fauna.

Maipool regarded as one of the most sacred places for the native people which has now become a centre of attraction for the outsiders.on every LOHRI at the beginning of year (sajji) is celebrated by bathing in the holy river Giri Ganga which flows through it.

Religion

Although, almost entire population follows hinduism, still people are catagorised according to the god they follow i.e DEVTA. There are various gods which inherit a big temple for themselves along with a wealthy status.Some of the gods are as following:

Chikhrehwar devta (chikhar village)
Dome devta
Nandan devta
Mahasoo devta (gajedi)

Geography

Himanshu Khagta — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 18:46:37 +0000

Theog is located at 31.12° N 77.35° E. It has an average elevation of 1965 metres (6446 feet) and is just 32 km from Shimla on The Hindustan-Tibet Road (NH 22) . This is a town of five GHATS as Rahi Ghat,Deori Ghat, Prem Ghat, Janoghat,and Bagaghat. This town has always remained at the center of state politics.

Shaali Bazaar (Theog Market) : This is the main bazaar and the main point of attraction for buying and selling. The potato ground holds equal importance where many cultural functions are organized. It has evolved out into a highly developed market equipped with all the facilities ranging from health to education.

Ghats( the striking features of theog) :

Rhai ghat
Deori ghat
Prem ghat
Janoghat
Bagaghat

The above 4 ghats are equally imporatant and contributes in making theog different from other places. Bagaghat is associated with the religion and ancient history.

The Sacred Temple of ‘ Mata Gumti ‘ at bagaghat is one of the ancient temples where one can see and discover the old scriptures of olden times.This temple holds a very important place as it is mainly related with all the religious activities and is a worship deity for the local people around. Efforts being made by the local community to renovate the old temple. The temple is located on the top of a hill from where one can almost enjoy the natural beauty of place around.

River Giri Ganga : It’a a small river flowing nearby (through Chailla) which has emerged as an irrigation lifeline for people around and is agriculturally beneficial. This river is regarded very sacred and people believe that it’s a part of the river Ganga only, hence they named it giri (small) ganga. On every new year, on the occasion of lohri people take a holy dip in the river at a place known as maipool.

History

Himanshu Khagta — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 18:36:42 +0000

The rulers share a common line of descent with the founders of Ghund and Madhan, who were all together sons of a Chandel Rajput of Jaipur. The state was made subordinate to Keonthal by a sanad of September 1815.

Rulers were :

Rana Bhup Chand 1847/1866, succeeded to the throne in 1847, married and had three children. He died 1866.
Tikka Hari Chand, later Rana Hari Chand (qv)
Raj Kumar Nand Singh, born 1855, married and had one child.
Kanwar Hira Singh.

Thakur Krishan Chand, succeeded to the throne on 10th August 1962 and was installed in January 1963. (The Palace, Sainj, Tehsil Theog, District Simla, Himachal Pradesh, India).

Born 8th August 1933 at Lady Reading Hospital, Simla; educated in Sainj and the Butler High School, Simla; married 26th February 1952, Kumari Vidya Devi, daughter of Mian Ranjit Singh of Koti State, born 12th September 1933, and has four children.

Raj Kumari Vindeshwari Kumari, born 1st March 1953 at Sainj, married February 1973 at Chandigarh,
Kanwar Ari Daman Singh Doad, youngest brother of Rana Gajender Chand of Manswal, born 1947, and has issue, a daughter.
Kumari Gita Singh, born 1st February 1975.
Tikka Kirti Chand, born 23rd February 1954 at Sainj; educated at Saint Edward’s School, Simla and the DAV College at Chandigarh; married Kumari Nirupama Kumari, daughter of Kanwar Bhopal Singh of Jubbal, and has two children.
Raj Kumar Shardul Chand, born 26th March 1997 at Lady Reading Hospital, Simla.
Raj Kumari Shivani Kumari, born 20th March 1998 at the Government Hospital, Jubbal.
Kishan Singh
Kanwar Nitu Singh

Introduction

Himanshu Khagta — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 18:22:36 +0000

Beauty lies in the eyes of beholder and in fact the truth is which one will appreciate when one experiences the scenic beauty and aesthetic culture of theog. It’s one of the places with an ambiance of soul lifting and a blissful bountiful nature. The mesmerising landscape leaves one with one of the transcendental experience.

Quick Facts:

Area : 373sq km
Location : 32 KM FROM SHIMLA
Dynasty : Chandela
Villages : 5,654(1901)
Religion : Hindu
Language : Hindi, Pahari