The Bagwal Fair is celebrated with Raksha Bandhan every year. Prayers are offered to Goddess Varahi, and Prasad is given out. The most common ritual that takes place is where people throw stones at each other and the ritual stops when the chief priest signals a halt. Devotees from all the surrounding regions join and witness this festival.
The people of Uttarakhand claim that the news of Lord Rama returning from exile reached 11 days late due to difficult terrain in the ancient time. Therefore, they celebrate Diwali exactly 11 days from the date the whole world celebrate Diwali. Cooking various delicacies, performing folk dances and lighting up their homes. People also rejoice by spinning a rope called “Bhailo” with a fire on one end.
The second week of January, Makar Sankranti’s auspicious day marks the beginning of the Uttarayani Mela in the Kumaon area of Uttarakhand (Bageshwar, Ranibagh, Hanseswari and so on). The Bagnath Temple in Bageshwar is the ground for a fair that typically lasts a week. The area’s cultural heritage are demonstrated by a multitude of local artists singing Jhoras, Chancharis and Bairas (folklore). Local products such as iron and copper pots,… Read More »Uttarayani Mela
Known to be one of the most popular fairs in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, the Magh Mela is a religious fair that has gradually become an significant source of income through tourism. Celebrated during the month of January (14-21 January), dolis/palanquins carrying the deity are seen flocking to Ramlila Ground Site, where devotees are submerged in the Ganga River. The fair, which displays local produce and handicrafts by local… Read More »Magh Mela
Also known as the ‘Himalayan Mahakumbh,’ this festival marks the commemoration of the goddess Nanda Devi, in which devotees from both the Garhwal and Kumaon regions of Uttarakhand come together to be part of the holy yatra. The Nanda Devi Raj Jat Yatra, which lasts for three weeks and is organised once every twelve years, takes almost 22 days to complete. During this yatra, all parts of society participate-dalits play… Read More »Nanda Devi Raj Jat Yatra
Organized in the Dehradun Chakrata District, the Bissu Mela is a fair celebrated by the Jaunsari tribe whose roots can be traced back to that of the Pandavas. Celebrated over the course of a week as a result of a successful harvest season in Uttarakhand, the main attraction of the fair is that villagers who have settled outside come together from all over the world to shower their love and… Read More »Bissu Mela
Described as a festival of pastoralists and agriculturalists, the ‘Hill Jatra’ festival was first seen in the village of Kumaour in India. In the ancient times, the ritual is linked to the ‘ropai’ (plantation of paddy) for which a buffalo must be sacrificed in order to appease the gods who will ensure a good yield during the current season of farming. As far as the actual ceremony is concerned, it… Read More »Hill Jatra
The Ghee Sankranti festival, also known as the ‘Olgia’ festival, is celebrated on the first day of the month of August (Bhado), a festival that portrays the gratitude of locals who earn a living by farming by marking the beginning of the harvest season; a time when the crops are thriving and the milk-laden cattle are ready to be milked. As far as the celebration has progressively developed over the… Read More »Ghee Sankranti
This fair takes place every year in the months of April-May in the town of Dwarahat (Almora). This Syalde Bikhauti Mela takes place in two phases, the first in the Vimandeshwar Temple and the second in the Dwarahat market. During the mela, you can see folk dances and songs with traditional foliage decorated by people gathered together. An significant practice, ‘Oda Bhetna,’ is the striking of a stone (Oda). According… Read More »Siyalde Bikhauti Mela.
The Purnagiri Mela, bearing the name of the temple in which it is held, is a sacred festival celebrated to commemorate the goddess of Sati. At an altitude of more than 1,650 m above the sea level, not only do vibrant colours give life to the festival, but the picturesque views of the Himalayas on display are a sight to behold. From the point of view of its religious significance,… Read More »Purnagiri Mela