Migrating to Darma Valley for the first time with Kuncha

Firstly, I would like to let you know about Kuncha or Kunja, Kuncha is basically a word for Migration in my mother tongue Rung Lwo.

The Migration or Kuncha we perform is specifically from  one home to another, it is done to  prevent the extreme weather condition in our summer home and also to facilitate the trade which our ancestors used to do from Tibet to India and Vice-Versa.

A Glimpse of Kunja. 
Location : Pangba Wae, Darma Valley.
Image Source : Govind S. Bonal 
( @boungsela )

Normally, I visit my motherland once in a year in Summer Vacations. It used to take a full day of Trekking after taxi till Dar Village, to Reach home from Dharchula. ( Our Tehsil under Pithoragarh District of Uttarakhand, India. )

Like always this time the Journey was different, yes, you heard right, the flood of monsoon hits you harder and different every time.

It is not Chhirkila Dam,
The Landslide has stopped the River.

It's only May, the monsoon has not arrived yet.

Now, it was the year 2009 and there are still 15 days left for my Summer Vacations to start but I'm already excited.

The Excitement level was about to rise as this time I was supposed to start the journey a Little ahead, with Kunja and I was taking a big leap of 15 days from my school. Literally, it was a Big one.

Now the scenario is, my grandfather, bade mama, chhote mama and mosi has already started the journey few days back with our Cattles, although we have the road facility till Dar Village ( as per 2009 ) but we have our Cattles too. So all the heavy stuffs and few family members are supposed to reach Dar by vehicle and then the journey will be continued on foot with the cattles.

This kid is me in 2009, following the trails.

Image Source : @boungsela 
( Govind Singh Bonal )

We had to change the vehicle twice as the Landslide has stopped the passage. We reached Dar by the sunset, our family members and Cattles are already there, waiting for us to join the squad. 

My Grandmother has a special friend in this Village, her Sangee ( an old rung word for the female best friend ) !

Her Sangee belongs to the Anwal Community of Dar. There are Anwal and Rungs both the communities co - existing happily in this Village of Darma Valley. She visits her place every year during this time, and they also welcome us warmly every single time.

After eating and staying in her place for a day it's time to continue the journey.

The next day, we woke up at 03:00 AM, packed up the things, although we dont have the vehicle to carry the load, but we have the ships, the Dzos ( ZHO ).

Loaded the Cattles with the stuffs and then started the journey by 05:00 AM.

The Trail.

 

We don't walk the whole day as we have loaded cattles and even calves. We pause the journey by mid-day. 

It takes almost a week or so to reach respective Village, varying from place to place.

Point to be noted, our companions are not only family members and Cattles but the WHOLE VALLEY, by whole valley I mean the people from different villages who are also migrating to their summer home and honestly, it feels like the whole village travelling together.

The Last Day of the Journey.
15.05.2009

Today, in 2021 roads have reached till 3rd Last Village of the Valley, although the number of people migrating with Kunja is reduced but some are still  migrating with Kunja with the same spirit. 

In fact, number of people visiting their village has reduced, more tourist visit the place than the natives, but it's not voluntary too. To be honest, my frequency of visiting my own village has decreased.

My Grandparents ( or Lala - Tete ) are about 75 years old, they have health issues, even has to use inhaler to breathe but still every single year they would fight with us and go to their happy place and even grow some potatoes and local radish.

My Grandfather with our Dzos, Chandu and Mangli.
May 15 2009.

Special Thanks to mama ji, Govind Singh Bonal for capturing these pictures.

Darma Valley Trek 2013.

Captured by Patrick Cullen Sir.