Nestled in the heart of the Kumaon Himalayas, my childhood village of Farsali was a place teeming with tales of fairies and spirits. Whenever I ventured into the forest with my friends, my mother would sternly warn me.
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“Hey, Bina, be on your best behavior in the forest, and don’t engage in any mischief, or the fairies might ensnare you! Then, we’ll have to perform a ritual, and you’ll bring home an unnecessary expense,” her admonitions echoed.
My mother was well aware that our group of friends was often raucous, scaling trees, singing with unrestrained glee, and even constructing swings in the midst of the woods. Instead of heeding her advice, we would occasionally clamber into the makeshift palanquin of the fairies, thoughtfully placed in the forest, and partake in the offerings of fruits and coconuts left for these mystical beings.
A slight sense of trepidation would linger in my heart – would something untoward happen to us? But, to our relief, nothing ever did.
In our villages, a profound belief in the existence of fairies and spirits, known as “Aeiries” and “Ancharies,” prevails. The lore suggests that these ethereal entities reside within the forest, and if someone, while passing through, stumbles, falls, or experiences a sudden fright, the Aeiries and Ancharies may exploit the moment to enter and inhabit that individual.
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In my marital village of Sarmoli, Aeiries are viewed as male fairies, and to appease them, villagers offer a flute, a replica gun, and a staff. These staffs are traditionally crafted from timur or the Xanthoxylem tree. On the other hand, Ancharies are regarded as female spirits, and they favor trinkets, white cloth, flowers, sandalwood, kheel-khaja (sugar-coated puffed rice), and food cooked in milk.
The belief persists that Aeiries and Ancharies generously share these offerings with their acquaintances and kin.
To honor Aeiries, Ancharies, and their attendant spirits, villagers select tranquil, wooded locations and erect modest abodes using three rounded stones. Adorned with suitable yellow, white, or red fabric, these sanctuaries invite fairies to make them their homes, where rituals and offerings are conducted. Some individuals conduct elaborate ceremonies known as “jagaran” every two to three years.
If a heartfelt wish is granted, they express their gratitude through jagarans held every three, five, or seven years. During a jagaran, it is believed that either the Aeirie or Anchari inhabits a participant, dances, partakes in the feast, and departs, expressing contentment, “My appetite is satiated, and I am pleased.”
Within the fairy families, Aeiries and Ancharies coexist harmoniously with Aan and Baan spirits. Aeiries and Ancharies occupy a superior rank in this spiritual hierarchy, while Aan-Baan spirits dutifully serve as their attendants. Among the diverse Aan-Baan spirits, one encounters red, yellow, black, and white entities. Offerings to these spirits encompass meat, lime, cooked and semi-cooked rice, and lentils.
Among all the Aan-Baan spirits, the Red Baan is renowned for its formidable power. When it possesses an individual, it is considered the most challenging to appease, believed to be a wrathful and defiant spirit. Specific food offerings are requisite to placate it, as the saying goes, “If you can appease this spirit, all others will follow suit.”
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Aan-Baan spirits have a penchant for meat. To liberate a possessed person from their grasp, an animal sacrifice is often necessitated. The black and red spirits, in particular, relish semi-cooked black lentils, rice, and meat.
The Lula Baan distinguishes itself by its inability to walk, rendering the host similarly immobile upon possession.
The Twal Baan is a male spirit that communicates through mime due to its inability to hear. During a propitiation ritual, it delights in drumming and the narration of stories.
Even in the present day, during the months of September and October, devout believers venture into the forests to bridge the gap between their world and that of the fairies and spirits.
I extend an invitation to you to watch this video and listen to the firsthand accounts of the people from my village in Sarmoli as they share their profound beliefs regarding the power of Aeiries and Ancharies.
