Glossary of Nanda Devi Raj Jat terms: jat, bugyal, doli, kund and more
Writing about the Raj Jat uses a mix of Garhwali, Hindi and Sanskrit words, and the same word is often spelled three ways in English. This glossary explains the terms used across this site, with the alternative spellings you will meet elsewhere. Meanings are the ones commonly used in this region; usage can differ by valley.
The pilgrimage
| Term | Meaning | Also written |
|---|---|---|
| Jat | A ceremonial journey or procession, close in meaning to yatra | Jaat, Jatra, Yatra, जात, यात्रा |
| Raj Jat | The great royal procession for Nanda Devi, traditionally held about every twelve years | Raj Jaat, Rajjat, Raj Yatra, राजजात |
| Badi Jat | “The big jat”, a common name for the Raj Jat | Badi Jaat, बड़ी जात |
| Lok Jat | The people’s procession for Nanda Devi, held far more often; also called the smaller or Choti Jat | Lokjat, Choti Jat, Chhoti Jat, लोकजात, छोटी जात |
| Doli | The decorated palanquin in which the goddess is carried | Dolee, डोली |
| Chausingya khadu | A four-horned ram traditionally associated with the Raj Jat | Chausingya, four-horned ram |
| Tarpan | A water offering made to ancestors, performed at lakes and rivers | Tarpana, तर्पण |
| Nauti | The village from which the Raj Jat traditionally begins | Nauti, नौटी |
The landscape
| Term | Meaning | Examples in this site |
|---|---|---|
| Bugyal | A high-altitude meadow above the tree line, snow-covered in winter and grazed in summer | Bedni Bugyal |
| Kund | A pond or small lake, often with sacred associations | Roopkund, Homkund |
| Gali | In this region, commonly a pass or saddle on a ridge | Jyuragali (Juran Gali) |
| Dhar | A ridge or the high ground along one | Rann ki Dhar, Ghandiyal Dhar |
| Prayag | A confluence of two rivers, treated as sacred | Karnaprayag, Nandaprayag |
| Ghat | A landing place on a river bank, and also the name of a town and a halt in this area | Mahadev Ghat, Ghat |
| Gaon | Village | Tope Gaon, Kewar Gaun |
| Brahmakamal | A high-altitude flower, the state flower of Uttarakhand, found on the upper meadows | Bagwabasa (per the booklet) |
Why spellings differ
Place names in the Garhwal hills are written in Devanagari and transliterated into English by each author in their own way, so you will find Waan, Wan and Bann for one village, or Chepudi and Chepdyun for another. Official records, survey files, booklets and news reports all differ. On our map the spelling in the survey data is kept next to the standard form so that you can match whichever source you are using. Our villages and halts article lists the main variants.
A note on accuracy
These meanings are general. Regional and caste-specific vocabulary around the tradition can be more precise than a glossary allows, and local usage sometimes differs from what we have written here. If you can improve an entry, tell us on the contact page.
Sources and notes
- Terms are those used in the survey files, the printed Raj Jat booklet and the general literature on the pilgrimage; they were not drawn from a single dictionary.
- The state flower of Uttarakhand is the brahmakamal (Saussurea obvallata).