1. Basant Panchami
Basant Panchami is a festival that celebrates the coming of the spring season. It’s a big festival in Uttarakhand. It is celebrated in the month of Magh or January / February. Yellow dress is the flavour of this festival, dancing with Chounphula and Jhumelia, and flying kites are other regular routines during the day. Goddess of Knowledge and prosperity, Devi Saraswati is worshipped.
New beginning are done, kids are offered new books and they are initiated into learning.Â
This is one of the reason that Uttarakhandis are so intelligent and learned people.
Yellow Sweet rice is a must dish on this day.
2. Bhitauli and Harela
First part is called Bhitauli and concluding part as Harela.
Bhaituli is celebrated in March – April. House women sow seeds in the soil and by the end of the festival that comes in July – August (also starting of the rainy season), they reap the harvest and this is called Harela.
This is just a unique combination of festival – testing of seeds, starting of rainy season. Perhaps not anywhere in the world.
A festival with such a strong agricultural ethics and protocol.
Brothers also give gifts to their sisters.
There is yet another mythological reason, as this festival commemorates the wedding of Lord Shiva and Parvati.
3) Holi
Holi is yet another festival which is played with full spirit in Uttarakhand. Uttarakhand is famous for three distinct Holi festivities :
Mahila Holi, Khadi Holi, Baithak Holi,
Folk music and singing is essential part of all Holi celebrations in Uttarakhand.
Mahila Holi involves women singing to their heart’s content;
Khadi Holi involves the locals donning their traditional clothes, usually observed in rural areas and
Baithiki Holi requires singing of different classical ragas.
4) Makar Sankranti
Makar Sakranti is a famous festival acknowledging the movement of SUN towards north. This day is also marked as Uttarayaniranti marks the day of Uttarayani, In astrology language, on this day SUN enters the zodiacal sign of ‘makar’ (Capricorn) from ‘kark’ (cancer)
Early bathing and SUN worshipping is a must on this day.
Special food for this day is Khichdi and til ke laddoo. .
5. Kale Kauva or Ghughutia
The festival of Ghughutia or Kale Kauva is also celebrated during the time of Makar Sankranti. Locals are baking sweets made from deep-fried flour in various shapes, such as knives, spears, etc. By feeding the crows and migratory birds, the locals welcome them and also hope that they will come back next year. Children are also singing songs to attract these migratory birds.
What a way to express their love for local and migratory birds.
6. Phool Dei
Phool Dei is a festival that celebrates the harvest of the year and the coming spring season. It takes place on the first day of the Chaitra season (March-April) in accordance with the Hindu calendar and is also known as the Harvest Festival. As the name suggests, it is time for flowers to blossom,
Young girls go from house to house, singing the folk songs.
Phool dei, chhamma dei,
Deni dwar, bhar bhakar,
Ye deli se barambar namaskar,
Phoole dwar …..
Phool dei chhamma dei
They are believed to bless the homes by putting flowers and rice on the doorstep. In return, young girls are given sweets and blessings for their acts.
Another festival, another reason for unifying with nature.
7. Ganga Dussehra
Ganga Dussehra or Dasar is a festival that celebrates the emergence of the holy river Ganga from heavens. This festival takes place on Dashami (the tenth day) of the month of Jyeshtha and is a ten-day festival. It is seen in the ghats of Ganga in Haridwar, Rishikesh, and Allahabad, where devotees plunge into the water of the river hoping to rid themselves of their sins for ten consecutive days. This is called an act of purification. Darshans are kept, and watermelons and kakdi are offered to the gods. Ganga Dusshera is a wonderful festival that attracts a lot of devotees. ing with nature.
8. Kandali festival
Kandali Festival is celebrated by the Rung tribe in the Chaundans valley of Pithoragarh district in the Kumaon division. This Uttarakhandi festival marks the flowering of the flower Kandali which blosoms only once in 12 years.
This festival honours the defeat of Zorawar Singh ‘s army, a general of the Sikh Empire who tried to conquer the area in 1841. According to local storeys, it was the women who protected the area against the soldiers who tried to plunder the villages and hide in the Kandali shrub.
Another legend has it that a young boy died after adding the Kandali plant to his wounds, and then his mother cursed the plant and ordered the women to dig it out of the ground when it reached its full bloom.
It’s a week-long festival in which the people of the valley worship the idol of Lord Shiva made of barley and buckwheat and pray for victories over their enemies. This is completed by the puja, the festive feast, and the raising of the flag. Victorious cries are made, and the scene of resistance is recreated. The locals also show as if attacking the Kandali shrub. Local liquor is also an important part of the festival. Festivities and parties take place all night long.
9 ) Purnagiri 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, the area in which the Purnagiri Temple is now situated is believed to be the place where the navel of Sati and Savant Prajapati was cut down by the Vishnu Chakra and is also one of the 108 ‘Siddha Peethas’ (sacred) visited by pilgrims throughout the year.
This Mela takes place annually during the time of Chaitra Navratri and lasts for two months.
10) Siyalde Bikhauti Mela.
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 to a legend, in ancient times people would worship their god in a temple nearby, and due to some tension between the members of the two sects, a battle broke out that led to bloodshed. The leader of the group who lost the fight was beheaded, and a stone (Oda) was put near it to honour the fallen king.
The various customs on show and the lip-smacking Indian delicacy of ‘Jalebi’ is an integral part of the fair.
The Syalde Bikhauti Mela is one of cultural convergence .
11. Ghee Sankranti
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 years, the ancient custom has seen nephews and sons-in-law giving gifts to their maternal uncles and fathers-in-law.
As the name suggests, the important ritual of this festival involves eating ghee and chapatis stuffed with urad dal!
12) Hill Jatra
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 can be generally put under three categories: worship and ritualistic services comprising the first collection of activities accompanied by various pastoral activities. To conclude the ceremony, songs are recited and people are seen wearing masks that reflect the rich cultural heritage of Uttarakhand.
Traditional dances such as ‘Chanchari’ are performed, making the entire festival a safe and immersive experience.
13. Bissu Mela
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 affection for ‘Santoora Devi,’ the embodiment of Goddess Durga.
One can indulge in cultural diversity by grooving up folk music in which men and women wear vibrant and flamboyant traditional clothing while bringing to life ancient rituals for younger generations to celebrate.
This again reflects love for our own Maati by us Uttarakhandis.
14. Nanda Devi Raj Jat Yatra
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 drums, thakurs blast bhankauras, and brahmins take charge of ceremonial practices.
Is there any other festival which joins all communities together for a single cause ? What a beautiful message.
This can happen only in Uttarakhand
15) Magh 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 craftsmen from all over Uttarakhand, is always a big hit.
Another cultural bonding.
16. Uttarayani Mela
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, containers, casks, mattresses and many other items can be purchased at the fair.
According to local people in the region, as the sun shifts from the Southern Hemisphere to the Northern Hemisphere, a dip in the water of the river is thought to be auspicious and purifies the spirit.
17.Egaas
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.
18. Bagwal Fair
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.Â
Devotees from all the surrounding regions join and witness this festival.