Fairs and Festivals | Uttarakhand State PSC (UKPSC): Preparation - UKPSC (Uttarakhand) PDF Download

 Page 1


Fairs and Festivals
Kumbh Mela- It is a sacred Hindu pilgrimage, which takes place at four
locations of India. One of them is Haridwar in the state of Uttarakhand,
where the river Ganga enters the plains from Himalayas at the confluence of
three rivers Ganga (Ganges), Yamuna, and Saraswati. Ardh Kumbh Mela of
Uttarakhand takes place four times every twelve years at the above location.
Every twelve-year cycle includes the Maha (great) Kumbh Mela at Haridwar
and Prayag, which is the largest pilgrimage gathering in the world. It is
attended by millions of people.
Baishaki- Baishaki is among the important festivals of Uttarakhand. It is
celebrated during the month of April, which symbolizes the beginning of yet
another year. After harvesting season, people in Uttarakhand mostly relax
and spend their time in leisure. Therefore, to commemorate this free time
they started the celebration of Baishaki. At the period of transition, when the
Sun moves from one constellation (Sankranti) to the other, fairs and festivals
are observed by the people of Uttarakhand. In Uttarakhand, each sankranti is
marked with a festival, namely Fooldeyi, Bikhauti, Harela, Ghee Sankranti,
Khatarua, Holi Uttaraini, etc.
Bhaintoli/Bhaintol- This is a festival celebrated in the Kumaun region of
the state. During Chaitra month of Hindu calendar, maternal family of
married women prepares many kinds of dishes and brothers or fathers carry
these dishes to their married sisters and daughters. The women wait for her
brother or father to come to her home, give news about her maternal home
and present the dishes.
Devidhura Mela- Devidhura Mela is held in the compound of the Varahi
Devi temple of Devidhura. Devidhura Mela is held every year on the
auspicious day of Raksha Bandhan. The place Devidhura is situated at a
junction of Almora, Pithoragarh, and Nainital districts. Devidhura Mela is
famous for its enchanting dance and folk songs and also for its Bagwal.
Page 2


Fairs and Festivals
Kumbh Mela- It is a sacred Hindu pilgrimage, which takes place at four
locations of India. One of them is Haridwar in the state of Uttarakhand,
where the river Ganga enters the plains from Himalayas at the confluence of
three rivers Ganga (Ganges), Yamuna, and Saraswati. Ardh Kumbh Mela of
Uttarakhand takes place four times every twelve years at the above location.
Every twelve-year cycle includes the Maha (great) Kumbh Mela at Haridwar
and Prayag, which is the largest pilgrimage gathering in the world. It is
attended by millions of people.
Baishaki- Baishaki is among the important festivals of Uttarakhand. It is
celebrated during the month of April, which symbolizes the beginning of yet
another year. After harvesting season, people in Uttarakhand mostly relax
and spend their time in leisure. Therefore, to commemorate this free time
they started the celebration of Baishaki. At the period of transition, when the
Sun moves from one constellation (Sankranti) to the other, fairs and festivals
are observed by the people of Uttarakhand. In Uttarakhand, each sankranti is
marked with a festival, namely Fooldeyi, Bikhauti, Harela, Ghee Sankranti,
Khatarua, Holi Uttaraini, etc.
Bhaintoli/Bhaintol- This is a festival celebrated in the Kumaun region of
the state. During Chaitra month of Hindu calendar, maternal family of
married women prepares many kinds of dishes and brothers or fathers carry
these dishes to their married sisters and daughters. The women wait for her
brother or father to come to her home, give news about her maternal home
and present the dishes.
Devidhura Mela- Devidhura Mela is held in the compound of the Varahi
Devi temple of Devidhura. Devidhura Mela is held every year on the
auspicious day of Raksha Bandhan. The place Devidhura is situated at a
junction of Almora, Pithoragarh, and Nainital districts. Devidhura Mela is
famous for its enchanting dance and folk songs and also for its Bagwal.
Bagwal is a powerful tradition of Uttarakhand performed at Barahi temple
at Devidhra during Raksha Bandhan. This is also called stone war in
which people from nearby villages gather at big ground in front of
Devidhura temple. It starts with tracking of people from nearby villages
towards the temple in teams in which leader carries huge Chhatra ( a type
of umbrella). After walkin long distance and circumventing the temple on
the tune of local indstruments like dhol, muskbeen and ransingha they
reach ground which is followed by throwing of stones by teams on each
other for some time. Every year on Raksha Bandhan large number of
people gather at Barahi temple Devidhra to witness Bagwal. Some people
are also injured in the process but it is believed that they do not feel the
pain due to blessings of godess Barahi. Some human rights activist have
called for banning Bagwal but due to strong opposition from the local
people and looking at its religious and cultural significance such steps are
not being taken.
 
Uttaraini Mela - Uttaraini Mela is held around many locations including Sult
Mahadev, Bageshwar, Rameshwar, Chitrashila (Ranibagh), Hanseshwar, etc.
It is held on Uttarayani day (Makar Sankranti). The dola of Chaumu comes
down to the temple at Pancheshwar. Merchants from distant places like Tibet
and Nepal come to Uttaraini Mela for brisk trading. Among the things
available for sale are iron and copper pots, blankets, baskets, casks, durries,
mats, mattresses, cane and bamboo articles, carpets, blankets, herbs, and
spices.
Uttaraini Mela at Bageshwar attracts a lot of local people as well as
tourists. It is an important place from the cultural, commercial, and political
points of view. The festival at Bageshwar played important role in removing
social ills like Dola Palki.
Gauchar Mela- Gauchar Mela is a great attraction for the local people and
the traders and mercahnts from every corner of the state. Held every year for
a week starting from 14
th
 November, it is fundamentally an industrial fair. It
is attended widely by tourists and inhabitants of the state alike. The cultural
programs like the local dances and songs always remains a major attraction
of Gauchar mela at Uttarakhand.
Bagwal
Page 3


Fairs and Festivals
Kumbh Mela- It is a sacred Hindu pilgrimage, which takes place at four
locations of India. One of them is Haridwar in the state of Uttarakhand,
where the river Ganga enters the plains from Himalayas at the confluence of
three rivers Ganga (Ganges), Yamuna, and Saraswati. Ardh Kumbh Mela of
Uttarakhand takes place four times every twelve years at the above location.
Every twelve-year cycle includes the Maha (great) Kumbh Mela at Haridwar
and Prayag, which is the largest pilgrimage gathering in the world. It is
attended by millions of people.
Baishaki- Baishaki is among the important festivals of Uttarakhand. It is
celebrated during the month of April, which symbolizes the beginning of yet
another year. After harvesting season, people in Uttarakhand mostly relax
and spend their time in leisure. Therefore, to commemorate this free time
they started the celebration of Baishaki. At the period of transition, when the
Sun moves from one constellation (Sankranti) to the other, fairs and festivals
are observed by the people of Uttarakhand. In Uttarakhand, each sankranti is
marked with a festival, namely Fooldeyi, Bikhauti, Harela, Ghee Sankranti,
Khatarua, Holi Uttaraini, etc.
Bhaintoli/Bhaintol- This is a festival celebrated in the Kumaun region of
the state. During Chaitra month of Hindu calendar, maternal family of
married women prepares many kinds of dishes and brothers or fathers carry
these dishes to their married sisters and daughters. The women wait for her
brother or father to come to her home, give news about her maternal home
and present the dishes.
Devidhura Mela- Devidhura Mela is held in the compound of the Varahi
Devi temple of Devidhura. Devidhura Mela is held every year on the
auspicious day of Raksha Bandhan. The place Devidhura is situated at a
junction of Almora, Pithoragarh, and Nainital districts. Devidhura Mela is
famous for its enchanting dance and folk songs and also for its Bagwal.
Bagwal is a powerful tradition of Uttarakhand performed at Barahi temple
at Devidhra during Raksha Bandhan. This is also called stone war in
which people from nearby villages gather at big ground in front of
Devidhura temple. It starts with tracking of people from nearby villages
towards the temple in teams in which leader carries huge Chhatra ( a type
of umbrella). After walkin long distance and circumventing the temple on
the tune of local indstruments like dhol, muskbeen and ransingha they
reach ground which is followed by throwing of stones by teams on each
other for some time. Every year on Raksha Bandhan large number of
people gather at Barahi temple Devidhra to witness Bagwal. Some people
are also injured in the process but it is believed that they do not feel the
pain due to blessings of godess Barahi. Some human rights activist have
called for banning Bagwal but due to strong opposition from the local
people and looking at its religious and cultural significance such steps are
not being taken.
 
Uttaraini Mela - Uttaraini Mela is held around many locations including Sult
Mahadev, Bageshwar, Rameshwar, Chitrashila (Ranibagh), Hanseshwar, etc.
It is held on Uttarayani day (Makar Sankranti). The dola of Chaumu comes
down to the temple at Pancheshwar. Merchants from distant places like Tibet
and Nepal come to Uttaraini Mela for brisk trading. Among the things
available for sale are iron and copper pots, blankets, baskets, casks, durries,
mats, mattresses, cane and bamboo articles, carpets, blankets, herbs, and
spices.
Uttaraini Mela at Bageshwar attracts a lot of local people as well as
tourists. It is an important place from the cultural, commercial, and political
points of view. The festival at Bageshwar played important role in removing
social ills like Dola Palki.
Gauchar Mela- Gauchar Mela is a great attraction for the local people and
the traders and mercahnts from every corner of the state. Held every year for
a week starting from 14
th
 November, it is fundamentally an industrial fair. It
is attended widely by tourists and inhabitants of the state alike. The cultural
programs like the local dances and songs always remains a major attraction
of Gauchar mela at Uttarakhand.
Bagwal
Nanda Devi Mela -The Nanda Devi Mela is held at Almora, Kot
(Dangoli), Nainital, Kichha Ranikhet, Bhowali, and in the rural villages of
Lohar (like Milam and Martoli) and Pindar valleys (like Khati and
Wachham). The Nanda Devi Mela of at Almora and Roopkund are the most
famous. In Nainital and Almora, many people take part in the procession
carrying the dola (litter) of Nanda Devi. The fair at Saneti takes place every
second year. It is rich in folk expressions and many village products are
available for sale.
Nanda Devi Raj Jat Yatra- Nanda Devi Raj Jat Yatra is a festival that
stetches for whole three weeks. Innumerable people participate in Nanda
Devi Raj Jat Yatra from the Garhwal-Kumaon region, the rest of the country,
and abroad.Goddess Nanda Devi is a popular deity at many places of
Kumaon. Nanda Devi Raj Jat is organised once in every 12 years in Chamoli
after royal priests’ descendents and the Kunwar royal family make elaborate
preprations in the village of Nauti and in Kansuwar respectively. It is
primarily a religious pilgrimage spanning for 280 kilometer. The trek takes
about 20 days to be completed.
Peeran Kaliyar- Peeran Kaliyar Festival is organised at Piran Kaliyar
Sharif. This is located in Roorkee tehsil of Haridwar district. Lakhs of
Jaireens from across the country and abroad participate in Peerane Kaliyar
Festival. The festival spans for a period of about one month. It is organised
on the basis of the Muslim calendar near Id-E-Milad.
Maga Mela- Held once in a year on the occasion of Makar Sankranti (
January) in Uttarkashi. It is an important event of the district of Uttarkashi
from cultural, religious, and commercial points of view. The fair is held on
the banks of Bhagirathi River. Many local people and tourists from different
parts of Kumaon, Garhwal, and other parts of Uttar Pradesh participate in
Maga Mela.
The mela attracts devout people from all over the world. It is actually a
bathing ritual. It begins on a full moon day and lasts for 15 days to a month.
It attracts thousands of pilgrims, who come here every year to take a holy dip
in Bhagirathi and have a darshan of the image of their village deity. Every
twelfth year, this mela is called Kumbh Mela and every sixth year it is known
as Ardh Kumbh.
Vishu Mela- Vishu Mela is organized at the Jhanda ground in the
cantonment area of Chakrata block of the Dehradun district. It is held at a
Page 4


Fairs and Festivals
Kumbh Mela- It is a sacred Hindu pilgrimage, which takes place at four
locations of India. One of them is Haridwar in the state of Uttarakhand,
where the river Ganga enters the plains from Himalayas at the confluence of
three rivers Ganga (Ganges), Yamuna, and Saraswati. Ardh Kumbh Mela of
Uttarakhand takes place four times every twelve years at the above location.
Every twelve-year cycle includes the Maha (great) Kumbh Mela at Haridwar
and Prayag, which is the largest pilgrimage gathering in the world. It is
attended by millions of people.
Baishaki- Baishaki is among the important festivals of Uttarakhand. It is
celebrated during the month of April, which symbolizes the beginning of yet
another year. After harvesting season, people in Uttarakhand mostly relax
and spend their time in leisure. Therefore, to commemorate this free time
they started the celebration of Baishaki. At the period of transition, when the
Sun moves from one constellation (Sankranti) to the other, fairs and festivals
are observed by the people of Uttarakhand. In Uttarakhand, each sankranti is
marked with a festival, namely Fooldeyi, Bikhauti, Harela, Ghee Sankranti,
Khatarua, Holi Uttaraini, etc.
Bhaintoli/Bhaintol- This is a festival celebrated in the Kumaun region of
the state. During Chaitra month of Hindu calendar, maternal family of
married women prepares many kinds of dishes and brothers or fathers carry
these dishes to their married sisters and daughters. The women wait for her
brother or father to come to her home, give news about her maternal home
and present the dishes.
Devidhura Mela- Devidhura Mela is held in the compound of the Varahi
Devi temple of Devidhura. Devidhura Mela is held every year on the
auspicious day of Raksha Bandhan. The place Devidhura is situated at a
junction of Almora, Pithoragarh, and Nainital districts. Devidhura Mela is
famous for its enchanting dance and folk songs and also for its Bagwal.
Bagwal is a powerful tradition of Uttarakhand performed at Barahi temple
at Devidhra during Raksha Bandhan. This is also called stone war in
which people from nearby villages gather at big ground in front of
Devidhura temple. It starts with tracking of people from nearby villages
towards the temple in teams in which leader carries huge Chhatra ( a type
of umbrella). After walkin long distance and circumventing the temple on
the tune of local indstruments like dhol, muskbeen and ransingha they
reach ground which is followed by throwing of stones by teams on each
other for some time. Every year on Raksha Bandhan large number of
people gather at Barahi temple Devidhra to witness Bagwal. Some people
are also injured in the process but it is believed that they do not feel the
pain due to blessings of godess Barahi. Some human rights activist have
called for banning Bagwal but due to strong opposition from the local
people and looking at its religious and cultural significance such steps are
not being taken.
 
Uttaraini Mela - Uttaraini Mela is held around many locations including Sult
Mahadev, Bageshwar, Rameshwar, Chitrashila (Ranibagh), Hanseshwar, etc.
It is held on Uttarayani day (Makar Sankranti). The dola of Chaumu comes
down to the temple at Pancheshwar. Merchants from distant places like Tibet
and Nepal come to Uttaraini Mela for brisk trading. Among the things
available for sale are iron and copper pots, blankets, baskets, casks, durries,
mats, mattresses, cane and bamboo articles, carpets, blankets, herbs, and
spices.
Uttaraini Mela at Bageshwar attracts a lot of local people as well as
tourists. It is an important place from the cultural, commercial, and political
points of view. The festival at Bageshwar played important role in removing
social ills like Dola Palki.
Gauchar Mela- Gauchar Mela is a great attraction for the local people and
the traders and mercahnts from every corner of the state. Held every year for
a week starting from 14
th
 November, it is fundamentally an industrial fair. It
is attended widely by tourists and inhabitants of the state alike. The cultural
programs like the local dances and songs always remains a major attraction
of Gauchar mela at Uttarakhand.
Bagwal
Nanda Devi Mela -The Nanda Devi Mela is held at Almora, Kot
(Dangoli), Nainital, Kichha Ranikhet, Bhowali, and in the rural villages of
Lohar (like Milam and Martoli) and Pindar valleys (like Khati and
Wachham). The Nanda Devi Mela of at Almora and Roopkund are the most
famous. In Nainital and Almora, many people take part in the procession
carrying the dola (litter) of Nanda Devi. The fair at Saneti takes place every
second year. It is rich in folk expressions and many village products are
available for sale.
Nanda Devi Raj Jat Yatra- Nanda Devi Raj Jat Yatra is a festival that
stetches for whole three weeks. Innumerable people participate in Nanda
Devi Raj Jat Yatra from the Garhwal-Kumaon region, the rest of the country,
and abroad.Goddess Nanda Devi is a popular deity at many places of
Kumaon. Nanda Devi Raj Jat is organised once in every 12 years in Chamoli
after royal priests’ descendents and the Kunwar royal family make elaborate
preprations in the village of Nauti and in Kansuwar respectively. It is
primarily a religious pilgrimage spanning for 280 kilometer. The trek takes
about 20 days to be completed.
Peeran Kaliyar- Peeran Kaliyar Festival is organised at Piran Kaliyar
Sharif. This is located in Roorkee tehsil of Haridwar district. Lakhs of
Jaireens from across the country and abroad participate in Peerane Kaliyar
Festival. The festival spans for a period of about one month. It is organised
on the basis of the Muslim calendar near Id-E-Milad.
Maga Mela- Held once in a year on the occasion of Makar Sankranti (
January) in Uttarkashi. It is an important event of the district of Uttarkashi
from cultural, religious, and commercial points of view. The fair is held on
the banks of Bhagirathi River. Many local people and tourists from different
parts of Kumaon, Garhwal, and other parts of Uttar Pradesh participate in
Maga Mela.
The mela attracts devout people from all over the world. It is actually a
bathing ritual. It begins on a full moon day and lasts for 15 days to a month.
It attracts thousands of pilgrims, who come here every year to take a holy dip
in Bhagirathi and have a darshan of the image of their village deity. Every
twelfth year, this mela is called Kumbh Mela and every sixth year it is known
as Ardh Kumbh.
Vishu Mela- Vishu Mela is organized at the Jhanda ground in the
cantonment area of Chakrata block of the Dehradun district. It is held at a
distance of about 3 kilometer from Chakrata. The fair reflects the tradition
and cultural heritage of the Jaunsari tribe. A large number of people
participate in Vishu Mela from nearby Uttarkashi, Trhri, and Saharanpur
districts. The fair is organized to celebrate the harvesting season in the area.
Therefore, Vishu Mela reflects the happiness of the local people.
Mansar fair- celebrated in Farswani village of Kot block in Pauri garhwal
district, every year on the occasion of Bhu-samadhi day of godess sita. It is
believed that this is the place where godess Sita took the bhu-samadhi.
Harela Mela- Weeklong Festival is organized at Bheemtal, in Nainital
district on the occasion of famous festival of Harela (July 15 or 16). The
festival is organized since British period and people of surrounding villages
and traders participate in large numbers.
Haritalika Teej and Darkhane- A festival celebrated by Gurkha
community in Uttarakhand. People worship Neelkanth Mahadev and godess
Gaura. First day of the three day festival is called Darkhane. Women keep
Nirjala fast on this day, before being invited by their maternal homes.
Ramman
Ramman is an important festival of Uttarakhand that has been declared
World Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in 2009. The festival is
celebrated in the month of Vaishakh in Salud, Sailung and Dungra
villages of Penkhanda patti in Joshimath block of Chamoli district. It is
based on Ramayana. It includes stories of lord Ram in folk form including
play, swang, and worship. It also includes annual worship of Bhumyal
devta and village (gram) devta. Pattar which is a wooden mask prepared
exclusively by Mulberry wood is its exclusive feature. The main pattars
include Maur Mauryan (cattle rearer and his wife), Baniya Baniyan, Kuru
Jogi (a jocker), and Narsingh Prahlad.