Loon and Lota: A unique Himachali practice used by politicians to secure votes

Politicians, particularly those contesting from the so-called "royal clans" in Himachal Pradesh, resort to 'Loon and Lota' - a traditional practise wherein people add loon (salt) in a lota (urn) filled with water to prove their truthfulness - to get the voters to swear allegiance to them or their party.

Himachal Pradesh:Come election time, and politicians leave no stone unturned to lure voters to ensure that their votes are polled in favour of them, but a unique age-old tradition in Himachal Pradesh has taken this obsession to garner votes to a whole new level.

Politicians, particularly those contesting from the so-called "royal clans" in Himachal Pradesh, resort to 'Loon and Lota' - a traditional practise wherein people add loon (salt) in a lota (urn) filled with water to prove their truthfulness - to get the voters to swear allegiance to them or their party.

Just before the elections, the so-called 'kardars' (men of the deity) will approach the people and take "loon" in one hand and "lota" in another and will ask them to promise their votes to the "royal" contestant or another particular candidate. Then a mantra is recited, concluding the age-old custom.

At least one in the family now will have to vote according to the 'kardar'.

Prevalent in areas such as Giripar, Shimla, and Mandi, the tradition of 'Loon and Lota' was originally practised to identify truth from false. It was used to solve disputes and act as a deterrent for offenders.

In case of a theft in the village, a village panchayat meeting was generally held, and water from a source outside a temple compound was brought.

The person, who is suspected of having committed the crime, was then asked to put salt in the urn carrying water.

The idea behind the unique practice is that the person will testify truth and honour the agreement made in front of the witnesses on their own free will, failing which they would face the wrath of the local deity in form of misfortune just the way the salt poured by them in the water-filled urn gets dissolved.