Kumaoni Beliefs, Sayings & Language
KUMAONI BELIEFS
- It is considered inauspicious to visit someone's house On Tuesday / Saturday.
- It is inauspicious to visit a sick person on Tuesday, Saturday and Thursday.
- Tuesdays and Saturdays are days to when you visit for paying condolences on someone's death.
- Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, are considered auspicious for finalising marriage talks.
- One does not undertake a journey to directions on days as given below:-
- Sunday and Friday - West
- Wednesday and Tuesday - North
- Thursday - South
- Saturday and Monday - East.
- You do not undertake any new venture/ task / important decision on a Saturday.
- When visiting some one you do not go empty handed but take batasha /fruits or sweets.
- When visiting a woman who has given birth, you take milk and batasha/ sweets.
In the modern times most people do not believe in these beliefs , but some of these things are still followed in villages and other small towns.
Sayings
Kumaoni language has a number of very interesting and apt sayings. I will try and translate them into English and hope they do not loose their essence.
- JYITHJU BOL KE MARNI KAMARE TOD DINI.
(JYITHJU IS THE ELDER BROTHER OF YOUR HUSBAND)
It means that my Brother - in - law is always so sarcastic that when he speaks it seems that your spine has fractured.
- KHET PAT HAREGE LASUN MEIN JOR.
The literal meaning is that a person has no knowledge of farming, but he only pays attention to grow garlic.
- NIRBUDDHI RAJEKI KATHE KATH.
It means that there are a number of stories of a king who is an idiot.
- SASULE BUARI THHE KO, BUARIL KUKUR THHE KO, KUKURL PUCHEDI HELE DE.
Mother in law ordered her daughter in law, who in turn ordered the dog, who just wagged his tail. It means that if you leave the task to others it will never be completed.
- ADDAIN BAMAN KE BHESEIN KHEER
It means that if Kheer (sweet rice) is served to a brahmin who has already over eaten , he will complain that the kheer smells of the buffalo. Brahmins in India are infamous for overeating.
- MERI PAILAG TERI KATHAP.
It means that when I touch your feet (for paying obeisance), you just ignore me. (Good deeds not being reciprocated.)
- DATULI APANE TARAF KATON.
It means that a sickle always cuts towards your self i.e. you will always take the side of your near ones.
- DADYAL GORUK LAAT SAINI PADANCH.
You have to tolerate the kicks of a cow who gives milk.
- JO GAON NI JAAN WEEK BAAT KE PUCHAIN
It means there is no point in asking directions to a village where you do not intend going.
- AAG LAGE PANI DAURAN
It means running for water after burning down a place, i.e. trying to help after creating a problem.
- AEKE KHADAK PINALU.
It means sweet potato of same place, i.e. birds of the same feather.
- KUNAL KE DEKHENCHA MUNAL DEKHO
It means do not waste time in seeing one's horoscope, see that persons persona.
- TUKE MEIN TAUR.
It means a discussion ending in bad blood.
- GHAREKE CHA BHADHAULI MEIN KHALA.
Since you are from the family you will not mind eating in the wok / pan.
- DAI KHANI WAL BHAJI GO PAATAL CHATNI WAL HAATH PAD.
The person who stole the curd ran away but the one licking the plate was caught i.e. the actual culprit ran away and a fall guy was caught.
Introduction to Kumaoni words
RELATIONSHIPS
- MOTHER - IJA
- FATHER - BABU
- GRAND FATHER - BARBAJYU
- GRAND MOTHER - AAMA
- SON - CHAYAL
- DAUGHTER - CHELI
- DAUGHTER IN LAW - BUARI
- SON IN LAW - JAWAIN
- GRANDSON - NAATI
- GRAND DAUGHTER - NAATIN
- YOUNGER SISTER - BAIN
- ELDER SISTER - DIDI
- YOUNGER BROTHER - NAN BHAU
- ELDER BROTHER _ DAJU
- UNCLE - KAK / JHETH JA
- AUNTY - KAKI / BHIN BUA/ THUL IJA
- BRIDE/GROOMS FATHER - SAMDHI
- BRIDE/GROOMS MOTHER - SAMDHIN
- YOUNGER SIBLING - BHAU
- DAUGHTER IN LAW - BUARI
- MAMA & MAMI - MAM & MAIJYU
BIRDS & ANIMALS
- DOG - KUKUR
- CAT - BIRAL
- COW- GORU
- HORSE - GHOR
- MONKEY - BANAR
- CROW - KAW
- SPARROW - DHINOR
- PARROT - SU
- MAINA BIRD- SITOL
OTHER THINGS
- SNOW - HYUN
- RAIN - BARKH
- BRIGHT SUN LIGHT - GHAM
- WIND - HAW
- SUN RAYS - TYUR
- WATER SPRING - NAUL
- DOOR - DWAR
- LOCK - TAL
- ROAD/ PATH - RAST / BAAT
- BIG - THUL
- SMALL - NAN
- CLOTHES - LUKUD
- LEAVES - PATT
- RICE - BHAT
- VEGETABLES - SAAG
- TEA - CHAHA
- HILL TOP - DAN
- DOLL - GUDI
Sentences in Kumaoni
1. What is your name? Tumar naam ki cha,
2. My name is Deepak. Mer naam Deepak cha.
3. How are you? Ke haal hairyen.
4. Where do you live? Tum kaa(n) roo(n) cha
5. He ate an apple. vell saib khei haaali(n).
6. He did well in the examination. Vell pariksha me bhal karo.
7. How was the journey yesterday? Beli yatra kas chii?
8. Did you have lunch? Tweel khanh khei haalo?
This is one of the best places where you can learn rudimentary Kumaoni. Do give it a try, it will help keep our language to survive the onslaught of Hindi and other languages.