Uttarakhand – Fairs & festivals

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Various fairs and festivals are organized in different parts of Kumaon and Garhwal to mark various events, seasons and occasions.The festival of Uttarakhand is very colorful. Most of the festivals are related to soil and land, also preserve the culture and life of the village. Some of the fairs and festivals of Uttarakhand are as follows:

  1. Uttarayani Fair: The fair takes place in various places of Uttarakhand including Bageshwar, Rameshwar, Chitrashila (Ranibagh), Hanseshwar. In Bageshwar, a huge fair takes place and a large number of people from different places visit Bageshwar to participate in the fair. The Uttarani Mela occurs in the occasion of Makar Sankranti every year.



  2. Basant Panchmi:  Basant Panchami is the festival celebrated in Uttarakhand to welcome the new season, the season of spring. . In this festivals people workship Devi Saraswati. The festival generally celebrated during magh. People use to wear yellow clothes and yellow handkerchiefs.
  3. Harela: Harela is the Hindu festival celebrated generally in Uttarakhand state fo India. Harela is the festival that marks the advent of Rainy season. The festival is celebrated thrice in a year. Two times it gets celebrated on Navratri, Firstly in Chaitra Navratri in the month of Chaitra and on the Sharad Navratri, in the month of Ashwin.
  4. Nanda Devi Fair: The Nanda Devi fair held in different places of Uttarakhand like Nainital, Almora, Kiccha, Kot, Bhowali, and in Pindar Valley. The fair is celebrated in  September every year. The fair is dedicated to goddess Nanda and Sunanda. It is said that Nanda Devi fair started in Kumaon during the reign of Kalyan Chand in the 16th century. A large number of people from different places took part in the fair.
  5. Ardh Kumbh Mela: Kumbh Mela is one of the largest religious congregations on the Earth. Ardh Kumbh (“Half Kumbh”) Mela occurs between the two Purna Kumbha Melas at Prayag and Haridwar. The Maha Kumbh occurs after 12 Purna Kumbh Melas i.e. every 144 years. The Kumbh Mela at Prayag is celebrated after approximately 3 years of Kumbh Mela at Haridwar.



  6. Jauljibi and Thal Fairs: Jauljibi is the mini market in Indo-Nepal border. Jaulijbi is the place of junction of two rivers i.e Kali river and Gori river. The Jauljibi and Thal Fairs take place in Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand State. Jaulijibi is the meeting place of 3 cultures: The Kumouni, the Shauka and The Nepali.
  7. Ghee Sankranti: Ghee Sankranti is celebrated in first day Badho (August ) in the year.On Ghee Sankaranti people put ghee on their foreheads and also consume chapatis stuffed with Urad Dal.
  8. Phool Dei: Phool dei is celebrated in mid-March. The festival is generally celebrated in Uttarakhand. On this day, younger girls go to all the houses in the village with the plate full of rice, jaggery, flowers, and coins. They offer their good wishes for the prosperity of the house and get rice, jaggery, and money.
  9. Khatarua : The festival is celebrated on the first day of Ashwin month (in mid September ) and in the beginning of autumn. On this day people light bonfire and dance around the fire.
  10. Bat Savitri: Vat Savitri is also called Vat – Purnima. The festival is celebrated by married women worship Savitri and Vat ( the banyan tree)  to seek the welfare and prosperity of her beloved husband. Married women took fast for the whole day.



  11. Nanda Devi Raj Jat Yatra: Nanda Devi Raj Jaat Yatra is a festival that lasts for whole three weeks this is a pilgrimage held every 12 years. The Festival is well known in all over the world.  A huge number of people participate in Nanda Devi Raj Jat Yatra from all over the country.
    The Yatra Route goes like Nauti – Idabadhani – Nauti – Kansuwa – Sem – Koti – Bhagwati – Kulsari – Chepnue – Nandkesari – Faldiagaon – Mundoli – Wan (Latu Devta) – Gairo Patal – Bedni – Pathar Nachonia – (Bhagubasa, Roopkund & Jura Gali) – Shila Samudra – Homkund – Chandaniyaghat – Sutol – Ghat –Nauti.

There are various other Fair and festivals of Uttarakhand, huge number of people from various places took part in the fairs and festivals of Uttarakhand