Situated in the Purola region of Uttarakhand, the Singtur range (Patti) is famous for its traditional rituals, fairs, and festivals. One such fair celebrated during Makar Sankranti is the Gendua Fair. The villages of Singtur Patti are divided into two regions Pansai and Saathi. Pansai represents Pandavas, and Sati represents Kauravas. The number of Kauravas in this region is believed to be 60 instead of 100. Every year on the day of Makar Sankranti, a marigold fair is organized in the villages of Deora and Machwana.
In ancient times a king named Karna, a warrior of Mahabharata, ruled this region. Karna used to organize a fair during Makar Sankranti. On this day, a competition was held among the ‘Malla’ people, and wrestlers from all over the region took part in football. The fair was called ‘Hilkuva’ after one of the Malla people. The fair was organized by Rawat, Rana, Rangad/Panwar, Khas, Rajput goldsmiths, and Khatris.
According to tradition, when a cow dies in the village of Devara, its skin is removed. This is used to impart shape to the football. The priest eases the process with prayer. The ball is coated with a red paste made from natural ingredients, which is so durable that the paint does not tarnish even after repeatedly throwing the ball in the mud. After the preparation is complete, the ball is taken to all the villages in the Singtur region. In this process, each household in the villages contributes some amount of rice in a bag. The collected rice is kept in a house in Devara village. The ball is then placed on a platform near the Devara temple. On the day of Makar Sankranti, both Pansai and fellow men get ready and gather on the ground situated between the villages of Deora and Machwana to cheer for them and cheer for their respective teams.
The program begins with dhol and songs played by Khash and Thani people. Players from both teams enter the field. The standard attire for the game is briefs as the field remains full of mud. The coordinator kicks off the event by throwing the ball from the platform to the ground. This starts the event by throwing the ball from the platform towards the ground. The priest blows the conch shell, and the women shower flowers on the players. The players then begin their quest to catch the ball. The field is divided into two sections, each belonging to two teams, and both teams try to catch the ball and throw it towards their own area.
If they succeed in doing so, they get 1 point. Players play four rounds of the game, and the team with the highest number wins. In the event of a tie, the ball is hung on the hooks of two poles placed in the middle of the field.