Larima Fog is generally seen everywhere in Tripura and in other parts of the north-eastern region of India during autumn, the dewy and the winter season. The density of fog in this region becomes maximum during December and January . Over the bushy dingles in the eastern hilly part of Tripura thick fog looks like huge smoke.
What is this fog? ls it fog or something else?
The hill people of Tripura, watching the vast cloud of smoke, have got an answer to this question.
According to the traditional interpretation, it is not fog: it is smoke, rising from the fire-place of Larima.
Larima is a benevolent, kindhearted, pious woman. She lives in an invisible hut in the deep hills. Only a dead person can see the hut. For her benevolence she is blessed with a boon to have an immortal life. From time immemorial she has been cooking rice, vegetables, and providing the last food to the dead person. There is a jungle track leading to her hermitage. The dead people walk through the track. There is a bulky log of wood placed across the track. This is called Bufang Kebeng. The dead person must cross the log. Once the dead person crosses the log, he forgets all the memories of life. Next, the dead person comes to take rest in the hermitage of Larima. The mother welcomes the dead person, offers seat, water and the last food, and gently bids farewell for ever.
Source: Folk Tales of Tripura by Dr Jagadis Gan-Chaudhuri
Picture Courtesy: Gond Art by Rahul Shyam
This is such a beautiful story! I don’t think I would have come across it in ordinary circumstances. Keep going