The spotted dove is called Ghughuti in Uttarakhand

Ghughuti’s tale is one steeped in sorrow and longing. Once a carefree and joyful young woman, her life changed after marriage when she was sent to live in a faraway village, separated from the affectionate embrace of her family. The only time she could hope to see her beloved brother was during the festival of Bhai Dooj.

One particular year, her brother undertook a difficult journey through dense forests and across swollen rivers to visit her for the festival. According to tradition, Ghughuti was required to fast until she could perform the rituals with her brother. With great anticipation, she cleaned her home and prepared an elaborate Pahadi feast featuring bhatt ki churdkani, chausa, and faanu. Exhausted from her tireless preparations, she accidentally drifted into a deep sleep.

Her brother eventually arrived to find the house unusually quiet. He called out for his sister, but there was no reply. Stepping inside and seeing her resting, he chose not to disturb her. Concerned about the dangers of returning home after dark, he quietly left the gifts he had brought bal mithai, woollen clothes, bedu, and ghughute—before departing without seeing her.

When Ghughuti finally awoke, she discovered the gifts her brother had left behind. Realisation quickly set in: she had missed the rare chance to see him, and he had left without sharing a meal. Overcome with grief, Ghughuti wept bitterly, lamenting, “I am an unfortunate sister. My brother came hungry, and I kept sleeping.”

It is said that the sorrow was too much for her heart to bear. Ghughuti eventually succumbed to her heartache, and after her death, she was reborn as the Ghughuti bird. Even today, the bird’s plaintive call is believed to echo Ghughuti’s tale of separation and yearning, holding her story within its melancholy song.

A Folktale sourced by Jyoti Nagarkoti from Uttarakhandi.com

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