The Myth of Disappearing Harvests and Hair in Shigar, Baltistan
Description
There is a popular myth in Shigar, which is also well-known in other parts of Baltistan. It revolves around the belief that the success or failure of crops, their ripening or failure to ripen, is influenced by supernatural beings. It is said that if the fairies were pleased, the crops would be bountiful. However, if they were displeased, the fruits would inexplicably disappear from the trees, despite appearing ripe and healthy initially. People believed that the sudden disappearance of the harvest was a sign of the fairies’ displeasure. To appease the fairies, the locals would engage in singing, playing music, and dancing to specific tunes that were thought to please these supernatural beings. Once the fairies were pleased, the harvest would mysteriously reappear on the trees. As a medical doctor, I found an interesting connection between this myth and a medical condition known as Alopecia areata which causes sudden hair loss, including beard and moustache hair. There are effective treatments available that can help the hair grow back. People in the village linked this condition to the myth, believing that if someone's beard or hair disappeared, it was because the fairies were angry with them and had taken the hair. When the hair grew back after some time, they believed it was a sign that the fairies were no longer angry. Medically, I understood that the sudden loss and regrowth of hair are due to Alopecia areata. However, I do not know the scientific reason behind the mysterious disappearance and reappearance of the harvest. Nonetheless, this myth remains a significant part of our village folklore.
not here
2.7.3.1
Metadata
Dr. Hasan Khan Amacha
Andreas Bürkert
Martin Wiehle
Eva Schlecht
Ellen Hoffmann
Files
Document
Type
Size
License
Except where otherwised noted, this item's license is described as CC BY-NC-SA