BHADERWAH, October 30, 2026 – The six-month-long annual Nag festival season, locally known as ‘Jatlaaz,’ officially concluded in Bhaderwah on Thursday with the age-old Malcha festival. The traditional season, deeply rooted in the region’s ancient Nag culture, begins every spring with the opening of the doors (kewaars) of the ancient Subar-Nag temple and ends as winter approaches.
The grand conclusion was celebrated simultaneously in Thubba village and the Chinta Valley of Bhaderwah, maintaining a centuries-old tradition. Following the Malcha festival, the revered deities are draped completely in traditional silk fabrics and will only be unveiled next year on the eve of the Baisakhi festival.
The Head Priest (Chaila) of the region, Santosh Sharma, explained the unique historical and cultural significance of the Malcha festival. “This tradition has been going on for centuries for the nomadic shepherds. Because they remain away in the higher hills for six months during the summer and cannot attend any of the earlier Nag festivals, this concluding event is specifically organized for them as they return to their respective homes after mid-October,” Sharma stated.
Hundreds of devoted followers converged at the Karie hamlet of Chinta Valley and Thubba village from the middle of the night to celebrate and offer traditional prayers to the Subar Nag deity before bidding farewell for the winter.
Jatlaaz, a vibrant symbol of Nag culture across the Chenab Valley, is observed as a rotational nighttime celebration across different villages. Following the nocturnal festivities, locals, accompanied by priests, gathered around a sacred fireplace (Zagru) and performed the traditional ‘Dekho’ dance until dawn.
At 5:00 AM, the priests and selected locals trekked to the hilltop Nag Temple at Thubba to seek the blessings of the Serpent God before returning to Chinta to bless hundreds of waiting devotees. Wearing ancient, culturally significant ornaments, the priests walked bare-footed across the sacred fire amidst the chanting of religious hymns and Nag mantras.
“The 600-year-old Subar Nag Temple and the ancient Takshak Nag temple are among the most revered pilgrimage places in this region. The doors open on April 12, and today, on October 29, with Malcha, we are celebrating the last festival of this sacred season,” Priest Santosh Sharma added.
Published by True Roots Media Network