Crafts, Culture, Cuisine : Experiences of Life

The Hatkoti Mata Temple complex An old pic of Hatkoti Complex - pic credit SDM Jubbal The Main Dwar     Navratri evokes emotions of  B hakti in all of us. It is the celebration of the power of woman. And what could be a better time  to share my experience of Devi Hatkoti of Rohru – a unique jewel nestled deep in Himalayas, almost 100 km from Shimla. I have been living in Shimla since past 7 years but never got an opportunity to go for darshan of Hatkoti Mata; maybe the bulawa (divine calling) had not come. But when a dear friend, Anuradha, wished for a break in the mountains we decided to visit the beautiful Pabbar valley. I had not much knowledge of this valley and nothing about this temple. In my mind I imagined the temple to be a simple one, like of a local deity, as is quite prevalent in Himachal.                                                                     The entire temple complex  But as soon as I entered, I was pleasantly surprised at the grandeur of it – the beauti

 Dagshai  Hills - Pic Credit Mr Sethi  The Dagshai Jail Museum    The outer Courtyard of the Jail  Dagshai – a charming little military town of Himachal –has probably more historical significance than many big towns of our state. Its relevance increases as the two intertwined Gs of our history – Gandhiji and Godse stayed in the town’s jail – the first as a visitor and other as an undertrial after shooting the first. For me there could not have been a better way to remember Gandhiji on his birth anniversary than to visit one of the places he visited in Himachal. It showcases Gandhiji’s love and support for Irish mutineers and also their influence on his thoughts. The Dagshai hills were under Raja of Patiala and from him the Britishers took away (free of cost) five villages to house one of their Army units near Ambala Cantt. One of the village was called Dagshai and hence the name. Popular legends say that the name is derived from the term – “Daag - i - Shahi” – the ‘Daag’ or the  ‘ ma