The festival of Kang Dali is celebrated by the Shauka tribe of
Uttaranchal. The Shaukas inhabit the Chaudas, Vyas and Darma valley in
Pithoragarh District.
According to folklore, a boy died on applying the paste of the root of a local shrub called Kang-Dali, on his boil. Following his death, his mother cursed the shrub that the women of the tribe will pull it up when in full bloom, every 12 years. It is believed that since then, a victory dance is performed every 12 years after decimating this shrub in bloom. After the victory dance and the extermination of the shrub, the festival is concluded with a feast.
