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Fairs & Festivals Himachal
Pradesh
January
There
is a sobriety, but no less joy, when Lohri or Maghi comes
along in mid-January. This is the traditionary mid-winter day and
also commemorates the last sowing of the Rabi crops. Community
bonfires, folk songs and dancing mark the festival. In tribal Spiti,
Dechhang is celebrated at he height of winter, while the Lahaul area
reserves it for early April. Paonta Sahib is a major focus on Guru
Gobind Singh's birthday. The town and other gurudwaras close to it,
are closely linked with the Guru's life.
On a
mid-night towards the end of Paush, Phagli begins in Lahaul's pattan
valley with snow being packed in a conical basket - kilta. This is
upturned on a roof and resembles a Shivalinga. Shiva, Naga and the
goddess Hadimba are worshipped, and the younger generation also mark
it by venerating the village elders. Chhang and Lugari, locally
brewed liquors flow freely and ritual dishes are eaten. Kinnaur's
Sazi, also comes at around this time.
February
Snow
continues to play a major part in February's festivals and
Himachal's Winter Carnival is also held this month. Gochi
in the Bhaga valley is an unusual festival when the villagers
celebrate the birth of male children. Taken marriages of children
below the age of six are also performed - and a lighter side comes
with the snow balling every child participates in.
The
Baba Barbhag Singh Mela is held in Una and honours this sage who
was renowned for his magical powers. Basant Panchmi marks the
arrival of spring in the lower areas and every town seems to keep a
reserve of colour for the occasion and the skies are filled with a
medley of kites. Ritual dances and an unbelievable rich imagery mark
Lossar. This is celebrated in Buddhist areas throughout the state -
while Lahaul's monasteries have some of the most spectacular
performances. On its eve, the stylised chhaam dance and elaborate
costumes and masks, commemorate the assassination of the cruel
Tibetan king, Langdarma in the 9th century. Often - through arongly
- called "the devil dance", it symbolises the triumph of good over
evil.
March
Centered around the
temple of Trilokinath, Char is celebrated in Lahaul. The
town of Mandi with its ancient temples revels in the Shivratri
fair for a whole week. On elaborately decorated palanquins,
hundred of local deities are carried to the town. Accompained by
folk bands, they make their first stop at the Madho Rai temple and
then go to pay obeisance to lord Shiva at the Bhootnath temple.
This is followed by festivities - music and song, dance and drama.
Yet, all the while the atmosphere is surcharged with deep
religious devotion. In the third week of March, the fascinating
Nalwari fair is held at Bilaspur. Cattle is traded, there are
wrestling bouts and aero and water sports shows are recent
additions. Chait, the first month of lunar calendar is celebrated
by the dancing of women in Kullu and by folk singing in Chamba.
April
Held on
the first Baisakh - the 13th April - Baisakhi is one of
Himachal's most important festivals. Rooted in the rural agrarian
tradition, it bids a final farewell to winter. At Tattapani near
Shimla, at the Rewalsar and Prashar lakes near Mandi, people take
purifying dips in the water. Numerous village fairs complete with
wrestling, dancing and archery are also held on this day.
In
April, Rali with its clay models is marked in Kangra. Clay models
are made in every house to mark that day, while unmarried girls pray
for grooms of their choice and the newly-wedded ask for happiness
and prosperity. At Chamba, the Sui Mela is thronged by women
and children and at the village of Taraur in district Mandi, the
Mahu Nag fair is held. The holy Markandaya fair is held near
Bilaspur and the Rohru Jatar is held in honour of the deity, Shikhru.
May
May gushes in with a
whole series of river rafting festivals and water sports Regattas,
throughout the state. Focused around the goddess Hadimba Devi,
Kullu celebrates the Dhoongri fair. In the same district,
the Banjar fair and the Sarhi Jatar are held in May.
Near Shimla at the exquisite glade of Sipur below Mashobra, the
charming Sipi fair is held. It is traditionally a time for
match-making.
June
A wide spectrum of
national talent, a variety of programmes and a splendid setting
make Shimla's Summer festival a memorable event. Shimla
also hosts the Red Cross Fair, sport tournaments, flower shows,
a photographs and posters exhibition and a fashion show based
on folk costumes. The Kangra festival is also held in June
at Kangra. At Solan, on the third sunday of the month, the
Solan fair honours the goddess Shilooni, the presiding deity
of the region. On June's full moon night, the Ghantal festival
is held at Lahaul's guru Ghantal monastery.
July
In the arid
trans-Himalaya, at Kaza's Ladarcha fair, the old trade
routes come alive as traders barter and sell a variety of goods
and produce. At Keylong, the Lahaul festival is also held
this month. Shravana Sankranti is celebrated at Nahan; at
Arki, buffalo fights mark the Sair fair and conducted in
honour of Banar devta of Shari, the Rampur Jatar is held near
Jubbal in district Shimla.
August
Chamba's famous
Minjar fair which celebrates the bounty of nature and prays
for a good harvest is normally held in August. Also in Chamba, the
Manimahesh Yatra to the sacred tarn of Manimahesh is held
immediately after the festival of Janamashtmi. Celebrated in
Chamba, Kullu and elsewhere, Chrewal, Badronjo or Patroru is a
festival of fire and flowers - and a time for purification of the
fields. In August, several places in Chamba, Bilaspur and Sirmour
have the Gugga fair which is connected with the worship of
Gugga, the Nag devta. The same month witnesses the Dal fair
in upper Dharmsala. The Shravan fair is held at the shrine
Naina Devi, while the Ashapuri fair is held in Kangra.
September
As the rains end, autumn
sends flery colours racing through the hills. In Kinnaur, the
festival of flowers, Fullaich opens a window to its remarkable
people and their beautiful countryside. Villagers scout the
hillsides for flowers which are collected in the village square.
These are then offered to the local deity. Then comes a spate of
revelry - singing, dancing and feasting. Kalpa has some of the
most vibrant celebrations and every twelve years, there is the
special festival. Also in September, at the village of Chhatrari,
near Chamba and centered around the exquisite temple of Shakti
Devi - a fair is held and masked dances performed. The Kangra
valley celebrates the festival of Sair. This is also celebrated
with stalls, singing and buffalo fights at Arki and Mashobra, both
near Shimla. At Nurpur in Kangra, under the watchful walls of its
old fort, the Nagini fair bids the summer farewell.
October
More traditionally, over
two hundred deities coverage on Kullu for its unusual Dussehra
celebrations. They pay homage to lord Raghunath while music and
colour fill the Silver valley. Numerous stalls offer a variety of
local wares. This is also the time when the International Folk
festival celebrated. The Jwalamukhi temple in Kangra becomes
the venue for a major fair. At Killar and Panai, the Phool
Yatra witnesses a remarkable display of neighbourly affection
and the Dehant Nag is worshipped.
November
With winter just a hop
and skip away, the age-old Lavi fair fills Rampur with a
burst of activity. The town was once a major entrepot on the old
trade routes to Kinnaur, Tibet, Ladakh and Afghanistan. Even
today, the tradition is as vibrant as ever. By the churning waters
of the river Sutlej, a variety of goods including wool, dry fruits
and horses are bartered and sold.
December
As winter arrives,
anglers shift to the Pong Dam. With the blessings of Nobel
Laureate, his holiness the Dalai Lama, the b>International
Himalayan festival is held in Kangra district. Troupes from the
Himalayan nations are present. In their icy wake, the winter winds
carry all the delights of ice-skating at Shimla. The extravaganza
of the Ice Skating Carnival is normally reserved for
December. Christmas celebrations overtake Shimla and
Dalhousie and as the church bells chime, they carry away another
event-packed year.
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