This chapter of Khordha Diaries is based on the true story of the hidden treasure and its associated myths. “Jokha” refers to an antiquated legend about a secret treasure buried underground. It emerges on a moonlit night or in total darkness. The treasure rolls across the ground as a burning light. It’s a well-known folktale in Khordha among older generations. The truth of the story is hard to find. With an open mind, let’s discuss the Jokha.
Long ago, 4 to 5 generations back, people didn’t have the means to protect their valuable ornaments. They couldn’t safeguard their gold coins or precious metals in nearby bank lockers. As a result, many people end up hiding a secret location in their homes. They store their valuables there for safekeeping. They occasionally bring out the hidden treasure for their personal use. Many, in their final days, used to tell their grandchildren or close ones where the treasures were. And a few didn’t bother to tell anybody. In this process, the treasure is lost for many generations.
It’s rumored that, after a long time spent in secret places, these treasures become lifelike. On special occasions, they emerge from the ground. They roll forth as a burning light at midnight. Many moons ago, people had open urinals in their houses. If the burning lights were trapped in their urinals while rolling, they transformed into gold. It’s a myth in the Khordha district. People also claim that encountering such a burning light in the open fields causes it to turn to gold. You need to splash urine upon it. These are just speculations without any scientific proof whatsoever.
It is still unclear whether Jokha possessed any supernatural powers or means of acting in such a manner. Without credible verification, the mystery can’t be debunked. Only hearsay and gossip persist over time and are transmitted from generation to generation. For example, my dad used to tell me about an incident he saw when he was young. He was coming home late at night. Due to transportation unavailability, he was coming home by bicycle. At midnight, he saw a white light rolling in the secluded forest area he was passing through. My father knew about Jokha and how to turn it into gold. He rushed to the place. He wanted to seize the rare opportunity to get rich. Upon reaching the place, the white light disappeared. It came as a surprise. When he returned from that particular jungle place, the white light appeared again. Seeing the peek-a-boo game, my dad got frightened and hurried away from that place.
Another story about this Jokha persists in the Khordha region. It’s rumored that a poor person from the nearby village of Olasingh accidentally found a Jokha. This person turned it into gold. The person’s opulence increased overnight, and his fortune shone. After that, three to four generations later, the family thrives in an affluent life. The family still lives in Khordha. The veracity of the claims is difficult to figure out.
In modern times, very few people are familiar with the Jokha concept. It is doubtful that you will see a running Jokha in the middle of the night. Even if a Jokha appears by chance, what are the odds? Is it captured by the government or any other person? We don’t know. Still, the Jokha mystery is an important one in Khordha’s history. It is essential to remember and discuss this among the current generation.
The Witty Stride 