The Namkhan festival at the highland village of Demul at an altitude of 4350 meters in the cold desert of Spiti is wrapped around the agricultural practices of the village. The main objective of this small community festival is to appease and pray to the Gods for a good harvest. Namkhan provides an interesting insight into the relationship and signicance of the village deity in the day to day life of the village. From lighting to water heating to room heating using Solar energy and cultivation of vegetables using Greenhouses, Demul is being developed as a sustainable village.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Elaborate ceremony to appease the village deity after which the villagers ride on horseback to an auspicious spot near by believed by the locals to house all the 5 monasteries of Spiti in a world which can be seen only by enlightened beings.
- Visit to the auspicious place on Yaks a day before Namkhan. It has an amazing 360 view of the mountain ranges.
- Folk Dance by the girls of Demul.
- An insight into the Green initiatives of Demul their agricultural practices along with the intricate system of irrigation which ensures minimal wastage of water.
- Meeting with the Nono (title for the King of Spiti), who prefers to be known as a progressive farmer.
