- +91 9971355865
- info@kashtiadventures.com
A list of festivals you CAN’T miss out on in the Indian Himalayas
The Indian Himalayas is known to be one of the most beautiful places that holds the best of the landscapes and also on top of that, the richest cultures. This region is not only diverse in terms of the vast array of landscape it offers but is also bountiful with some of the most diverse cultures and traditions of people. If you have the zeal to learn about the unique cultures of the people of the Indian Himalayan region, then you must visit it during the festivals which various people and communities here celebrate because trust us, the festivals here are really unique in their own way. So, let’s look into a few festivals that you can’t miss in the Himalayas and should definitely make an itinerary according to the time of the festivals!
1. Kullu Dussehra, Himachal Pradesh-
An international level festival, kullu dussehra is a local Himachali version of Navratri which is held every year in and around October. People from all over the world visit during this time of the year to either feel close to divinity or out of curiosity about this unique but once in a lifetime experience because this festival is celebrated quite differently than the other Navratri. This festival is devoted to Lord Raghunath who is said to be the ever-present ruling deity of this region of the country. Apart from Lord Raghunath, Kullu Dussehra also follows a multitude of local deities and you would truly be astounded to see how many of these local deities are considered to be divine and are worshiped by pilgrims not only from Himachal but from all over the world. If this wasn’t convincing enough then the display of unique cultural traditions through programmes and exhibitions by which you get to learn a vast array of knowledge about the Himachali people should definitely persuade you to visit Kullu during this Dussehra.
2. Halda Festival, Lahaul
A true representation of community solidarity and togetherness, Halda festival is celebrated by the communities from Gahar, Chandra and Pattan valleys. People come together during the month of January to celebrate with joy through various traditions and cultural ceremonies and rituals in place. A tradition that has been a part of the festival for ages is when families and people from each household come together to light up a huge bonfire at a spot chosen by the Lamas. The name Halda means nothing but the cedar twigs that are used to light up the bonfire. The festival is primarily dedicated to Shishkar Apar, who is known to be the Goddess of wealth and the people worship the local deities during this festival for better crop production, keep away from any evil forces and for overall prosperity. The dances, the food and the overall rejoicing of the people really makes it a worthwhile experience so you should definitely consider visiting the valley during this time of the year and make a bountiful number of joyful memories.
3. Losar- Ladakh, Himachal, Sikkim & Arunachal Pradesh-
A 15-day festival celebrated in Tibetan Buddhism which marks the Tibetan New year and is observed on the first day of the lunisolar Tibetan calendar, which corresponds to a date in February or March in the Gregorian calendar. If you are a fanatic and explorer of various foods and delicacies, then this is one of the best festivals to go to because you will come across various different types of foods and drinks. And one of these drinks is Chang or Chhang, which is locally made and consumed with delight in this region during the auspicious festival and if you are venturesome, this is a must try. Apart from the scrumptious delicacies, the cultural and colourful environment of the festival with people wearing traditional attires, dancing to music and the gala affairs really makes it a delightful experience.
4. Phool Dei, Uttarakhand
A festival that welcomes spring and is all about what comes with spring, that is flowers and the new feeling of joy. It is celebrated around mid-march and is conducted primarily by girls with great enthusiasm. Girls form groups and go to people’s houses with flowers, rice, jaggery, coconut and green leaves and through this they offer their wishes for good being and overall prosperity of the households. And the people of the households in return present the girls with well wishes, blessings and gifts like jaggery, money, sweets and so on. This time of the year during the festival comes with a general good feeling with people dancing in joy, wishing well for each other and coming together to celebrate the advent of spring and what it brings. While visiting, you may also get to enjoy a delight called ‘dei’ which is a traditional pudding made out of jaggery and is one of the main foods in the festival.
5. Hemis Festival, Leh
Hemis is a two-day festival held at the Hemis Monastery during the month of June or July and is dedicated to Lord Padmasambhava, known to have founded tantric buddhism in Tibet. This festival is also a representative of how good always takes over evil since celebrating this festival is known to bring good being and spiritual strength. The festival sees a rather mystic aura to itself and also involves masked dancing to the sound of drums, horns and cymbals. The festival’s colourful costumes worn by the lamas is a particular feature. Their fascinating performances are enhanced by their lengthy attire, beautiful masks, and extravagant headgears. Surprisingly, each mask has its own importance. All of this really adds to the beauty and uniqueness of the festival and definitely one of the best festivals that is recommended to visit in the mesmerizing valley of Leh.
6. Haryali, Himachal Pradesh
Another festival that marks the onset of a season, that is monsoon and hence is celebrated in July. Primarily celebrated by women and girls who dance with joy, wear the most colourful clothes, come together to apply mehendi on their hands and some also fast during this festival. The very name says a lot about the festival since it’s all about what monsoon offers, it brings along with it beautiful greenery and nature, and is definitely a reason to celebrate for the people of this region. It is said that this festival is celebrated to remember the auspicious reunion of Shiva and Parvati. The green, the colourful attires, the joy of laughter, coming together as a community and dancing to the beats and music is truly a scene to watch and experience.
We could go on and on about the various festivals celebrated in the mountains of India but then the list would really be endless. The diversity among the various regions and also ever contrasting solidarity among the people is really a delight to experience. Visiting the mountains not only for the landscape but also for the people and their culture should definitely be a part of your travel to-do list so hurry up and visit these places during your next festival vacay!
