| Some
legends have grown out of the particular location of the village. For example Chango, a
mere collection of four hamlets on the left bank of Spiti River is a big alluvial plain,
barricaded on every side by lofty hills has its story of origin. A very look at the
village suggests that it was a vast lake before. The four hundred and odd villagers work
hard in autumn and can only sing and dance, amuse themselves as best as they can during
long wintry months of the year and repeat the legend of the origin of the village. In days long forgotten a Lama in the court of the Raja of Tibet named Changla
accompanied the Raja on a pilgrimage and came to this very spot. The flat piece of land
girted by hills all around fascinated Changla and he wanted to settle down there. The Raja
was not willing and the party returned to Tibet. Sometime after Changla had a dream and
the vast alluvial plain beckoned again and again promising fertility and prosperous crops.
The Raja was superstitious and thought that he should now allow Changla to go and try his
fortune there.
Changla came and named the village after him, which was
abbreviated into Chango. Naturally the villagers think there is divinity behind the origin
of the village and are under the influence of Lamaism but few village godlings namely
Gyalbo, Dabla and Yulsa are there. |
