42 Days from Makar Sankranti These Villages in Himachal Pradesh Don’t Make Noise As Gods Are In Meditation

Residents of 10 villages located on the outskirts of Manali in Himachal Pradesh do not make any kind of noise for 42 days starting from Makar Sankranti. Goshal Village is home to temples dedicated to Gautam Rishi, Ved Vyas Rishi and Kanchan Nag. 

Orissa 360 writes
 Residents of 10 hamlets located on the outskirts of this picturesque tourist resort, some 250 km from the state capital, don’t allow anyone to make noise — in this time of the year. They themselves have stopped listening to music, watching television and doing even household chores that make noise. They believe this will disturb the mediating deities.
 If that happens, they will face divine wrath.
 Every year, any activity that creates noise in Goshal and nine other villages on the outskirts of Manali in Kullu district – with a population not more than 10,000 – comes to a halt for 42 days from Makar Sankranti (Jan 14).
 “All the deities have returned to the heaven. They are meditating. Any activity that makes noise will not be allowed till they return from their 42-day sojourn,” temple priest Hari Singh told IANS.
 He said their disturbance would bring bad luck, for the people and livestock.
The temple of Gautam Rishi, Ved Vyas Rishi and Kanchan Nag, a serpent deity, is located in Goshal village, four kilometres from upper Manali. It is closed to the public every year during Makar Sankranti.
 Legend has it that Rishi Gautam, the chief deity, had meditated where the temple is now located.
 The temple will be reopened when the deities return from their 42-day sojourn. During this period, no religious ceremony is performed in the temple.
 As per tradition, the locals start their routine activities only when the deities are back.
 Even tourists are told to be silent now.
 “We observe total silence. We stop listening to music and watching television,” said Jai Ram Thakur of Goshal village. Mobile telephones are kept on silent mode.