Grand 27 list of fairs and & festivals of Uttarakhand 2022- YouFestive

Uttarakhand is on the verge of a general election. The people of Uttarkhand will decide the future of Indian political parties that will rule the state in March 2022. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) now holds the majority of seats in the state. The election is also being celebrated as a festival throughout India.

Uttarakhand Festival Celebration

However, we'll be talking about Uttarakhand's fairs and festivals. Uttarakhand is a religiously significant state with stunning natural beauty. Uttarakhand's people celebrate all festivals, and there are several fairs held here. These fairs and festivals have preserved Uttarakhand's indigenous rituals and folk tunes.

Also Read : Ramayana the epic movie 2025

1. Bagwal Fair

Bagwal Fair is a once – a year event held in Bagwal. The Bagwal Fair in Uttarakhand takes place every year during Raksha Bandhan. Prasad is distributed, and Goddess Varahi is prayed to.  

In a wellknown rite, people throw stones at one another, which ends when the head pries indicates that it is time to stop. This fair draws devotees from all across the surrounding areas.

 

2. Basant Panchami

Basant's festival is held every year. The arrival of the Basant, or Spring season, is commemorated on Panchami. It is a wellknown celebration in Uttarakhand. It occurs in the month of Magh, or January/February, and marks the conclusion of the winter season, which is a time of death and decay. Locals conduct Chounphula and Jhumelia dances while dressed in yellow and flying kites. They revere Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, wealth, and the land. Sweet rice is a staple in almost every home.

 

3. Bhitauli and Harela

Every season has its own festivities among the people of Uttarakhand, and each holiday is honoured correctly. Harela is a festival that celebrates the start of the rainy season, also known as monsoon. The Kumaon community celebrates this celebration  in the month of Shravana, which falls between July and August. 

This festival commemorates the marriage of Lord Shiva and Parvati in Hindu mythology. Small idols or dikars of gods such as Maheshwar and Ganesh are made. 

Bhitauli, which takes place in the month of Chaitra (March-April), follows this event. It is centred on agriculture, with women sowing seeds in the soil and reaping the crop, known as harela, at the end of the celebration.  They can test the quality of their seeds in this way. During this festival, brothers also give their sisters gifts.

4. Bissu Mela

Organized in the Chakrata Block of Dehradun, the Bissu Mela is an expansive fair that is celebrated by the Jaunsari tribe, whose origins can be traced back to that of the Pandavas. Celebrated for over the period of a week in virtue of a good harvest season in Uttarakhand, a major attraction of the fair sees villagers from all over gather together to shower their love and affection to 'Santoora Devi', an incarnation of Goddess Durga. One can indulge in the cultural diversity by grooving to the folk music wherein men and women sport vivid and flamboyant traditional clothes while bringing to life lost traditions for the younger generations to feast upon.

5. Chaupakhya

The Chaupakhya festival is widely celebrated, and Chaumi Devta is revered by the villagers. In front of Chaumin Devta Temple, this celebration is held. 

The inhabitants of the local village take the idol out for a religious parade on Vijayadashami. People from neighbouring villages also participate in this religious practise, which takes place in a circular space around the temple, where people dance and sing to the beat of the drums. On the occasion of this event, locals present Shaman with all of their problems and issues and ask for acceptable remedies. The shaman presents the locals with flowers and rice.

 

6. Dhaulinag

There is a Dhaulinag temple which is located in the Bageshwar region which is dedicated to Nag Devta. During the month of mid-August and September, a fair is organized on the occasion of Nag Panchami and on the night of Ashwin Shukla Panchami. This festival or fair is known as Dhaulinag. In this region, Dhaulinag is worshipped as the Ishtadevta which means personally preferred deity.

On this occasion, Nagdevta is welcomed in the temple premises with drumbeats and songs. After that, a flaming lamp is lighted and people carry these lamps and walk around the temple complex.

 

7. Egaas

People of Uttarakhand believe that Lord Rama returned from his exile 11 days late to the upper hilly regions, which is why they celebrate Egaas, 11 days after Diwali, by cooking various delicacies, performing folk dances and lighting up their homes. People even celebrate by spinning a rope called "Bhailo" with a fire lit at one end.

 

8. Ganga Dusshera

The celebration of Ganga Dusshera, also known as Dasar, commemorates the arrival of the sacred river Ganga from above. This ten day festival takes place on Dashami (the tenth day) of the month of Jyeshtha. It is observed on the Ganga ghats in Haridwar, Rishikesh, and Allahabad, when devotees take a tenday dip in the river water in the hopes of being cleansed of their sins. This isseen as a cleansing act. Watermelons and kakdi are offered to the deity during darshans. The Ganga Dusshera is a large celebration that draws a large number of worshippers.

 

9. Ghee Sankranti

Ghee Sankranti is a festival that, by marking the beginning of the harvest season, depicts the gratitude of local people who earn a living through agriculture. It is also known as the'Olgia' festival and is celebrated on the first day of August (Bhado), when the crops are growing vigorously and the cows laden with milk are ready for milking. Gradually evolved from the way of celebration over the years, the old tradition is that nephews and son-in-law give gifts to their uncles and father-in-laws respectively. However, today’s background is summed up as farmers and craftsmen present gifts to their landlords. Common gifts exchanged include axes, ghee, datkhocha (metal toothpicks) and firewood. An important ceremony of this festival includes eating ghee and crepes stuffed with urad dal!

10. Hill Jatra

As a festival for herders and agronomists, the Hill Jatra Festival was first held in Kumaour Village, India. The ritual is related to the'ropai' (rice field plantation), for which a buffalo must be sacrificed to please the gods, who will ensure a good harvest in the ongoing farming season. During the festival, people will recite songs and people will see signs worn by people to express the rich cultural heritage of Uttarakhand. Performing traditional dances like "Chanchari" makes the whole festival a wholesome and immersive experience..

 

11. Holi

Holi Festival is another popular festival in Uttarakhand, and the celebrations in the Kuman area are even more enthusiastic. The celebration started as early as Basant Panchami. According to mythology, Holi marks the victory of justice over evil. Unlike the plains in Uttarakhand where Holika Dahan (burning pyre) is an indispensable part of Holi, since the crop has not yet been harvested, the ears of grain are not provided to the torch.

Folk music is another important part of Holi celebrations in Uttarakhand. Mahila Holi allows women to sing to their heart's content; Khadi Holi involves local people wearing their traditional costumes, which are usually observed in rural areas, while Baithiki Holi requires singing different classical ragas. People also make traditional gujiya and fried potatoes called aloo gutuk with a Himalayan spice called jamboo.

12. Kale Kauva or Ghughutiya

During the time of Makar Sankranti, Ghughutiya or Kale Kauva is also celebrated in Uttarakhand. The locals prepare sweets made from deep-fried flour in different shapes like knives, swords, etc. The locals welcome them by feeding the crows and migratory birds and hope that they come back next year. The children also sing songs to attract these migratory birds.

 

13. Kandali

The Kandali Festival is celebrated by the Rung tribe in the Chaundans Valley, Pithoragarh District, Kumaon Region. This festival marks the flowering of the Kandali flower, which blooms only once every 12 years. This festival is also to celebrate the failure of the army of the Sikh general Zorawar Singh who tried to invade the area in 1841. According to local stories, women defended the area against soldiers who tried to plunder and hide in the village. Candali shrubs. In the process, the bushes were also destroyed.

 

This is a week-long festival where people in the valley worship the idol of Lord Shiva made of barley and buckwheat and pray for victory over the enemy. Next came the puja, a ceremonial feast, and then the flag raising. The cry of victory sounded, and the scene of resistance reappeared. The locals even began to attack the bushes in Kandali.Local liquor is also an integral part of this festival. Festivities and celebration take place all night.

14. Kanwar Yatra

The onset of the Hindu month of Shravan (July) marks the commencement of the 'Kanwar Yatra' sacred pilgrimage journey. During the month-long yatra, millions of devotees of Lord Shiva from all over the country make a journey to the banks of the River Ganga (cities like Haridwar, Gangotri, Gaumukh, etc) and carry back sacred water from the river to a Shiva temple. The dedication of the devotees is such that they even carry their deity on a 'Kanwar' and travel to the holy river bare feet. Large camps and gatherings can be seen in Haridwar and Gangotri during the yatra with numerous makeshift accommodations that are constructed across the journey for the Kanwarias to rest. The magnanimity of the event can be fathomed when considered that the gathering on the ghats of the River Ganga in Haridwar has been recorded as one the biggest human gatherings in India.

15. Khatarua

Khatarua Festival is celebrated in the month of September in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand. This festival is celebrated to rejoice in the victory of the king of Kumaun. various Dance music is performed to celebrate this festival and good food is offered to the local peoples. This festival is generally celebrated at the beginning of the autumn season where a bonfire is set up and people and children dance around this bonfire. On this occasion, the local people of the village offer cucumber to the fire so as to destroy all the evil influence in the environment.

 

16. Kumaoni Folk Festival 

Celebrating the year in the Kuman region of Uttarakhand marks the beginning of a new season. This traditional festival is celebrated in Shravanie through Navratris, Chaitra Navratri in Chaitra in March/April, Ashwini.e in September/October and at the end of July.

 

17. Kumbh Mela

Kumbh Mela is one of the largest and most popular festivals in Uttarakhand. It is the largest gathering of pilgrims in the world, which includes swimming in the Ganges to escape from sin. This mela is a three-month festival, which is held alternately between Allahabad, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nasik every four years, that is, once every 12 years in any place. The exact date was carefully selected by the Vikrant calendar.

 

18. Magh Mela

Known to be one of the most popular fairs in the Uttarkashi district in Uttarakhand, the Magh Mela is a religious fair that has gradually become an important source of income via tourism. Held during the month of January, (14th-21st January) dolis or palanquins carrying the deity, are seen flocking to the Ramlila Ground where devotees immerse themselves in the river Ganga. A fair which exhibits local produce and handicrafts of local artisans from all over Uttarakhand, in the modern time is not restricted to Uttarkashi district- a skiing ground being prepared in Dayara Bugyal, a premier meadow in India.

 

19. Makar Sankranti

Makar Sankranti is a famous festival celebrated in many states of India. For the people of Uttarakhand, this festival marks the change of season. As per the Hindu religious texts, Makar Sankranti marks the day of Uttarayani, i.e., the sun has entered the zodiacal sign of 'makar' (Capricorn) from 'kark' (cancer) and has thus started moving towards the north. On this day, people worship the sun at sunrise and bathe in the river waters. The locals prepare Khichdi and til ke laddoo. The popular fair of Uttarayani also takes place during this time.

 

20. Nanda Devi Raj Jat Yatra

Also referred to as the `Himalayan Mahakumbh', this pageant of Uttarakhand marks commemoration to Goddess Nanda Devi in which devotees from each the Garhwal and Kumaon areas come collectively to be part of the sacred yatra. Held for 3 weeks and being prepared as soon as each twelve years, the Nanda Devi Raj Jat Yatra which spans over 280 km takes nearly 22 days to complete. During this yatra, all sections of the society take part- dalits play drums, thakurs blow bhankauras, and brahmins deal with ceremonial parasols.

21. Phool Dei

Phool Dei is a competition of Uttarakhand that celebrates the year`s harvest and the approaching of the spring season. It takes location on the primary day of the Chaitra season (March-April) as in keeping with the Hindu calendar and is likewise called the harvest competition. It is the time while vegetation blossom and that is followed through the ceremonial pudding referred to as dei that is made through the locals the usage of jaggery or gud, curd and flour. This dish is an indispensable a part of the competition. Young ladies are an indispensable a part of this competition of Uttarakhand. They move from residence to residence, making a song the peoples music of 'Phool Dei' with jaggery, rice, and coconut offering. It is assumed that they bless the houses through putting vegetation and rice at the doorsteps. In return, the younger ladies are supplied candies and benefits for his or her act.

22. Purnagiri Mela

Bearing the name of the temple in which it is held, the Purnagiri Mela is a sacred festival that is celebrated to commemorate Goddess Sati.  In terms 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) which is visited by pilgrims throughout the year. This Mela takes place annually during the period of Chaitra Navratri and spans for over a period of two months.

 

23. Sameshwar Utsav

Sameshwar Utsav is a festival that is celebrated on the annual basis during August and September month. This festival is celebrated in Uprikot village that is located in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand.

This festival is celebrated for 3 days and the main attraction of this festival is the different rituals that are performed by Shaman during the fair. On the first day of this festival drums are played loudly and the Saman dance on the beat of these drums.

On the second day of this festival, a Doli Nritya is done where the idol of God is placed in a decorated palki. 

 

24. Syalde Bikhauti Mela

Syalde Bikhauti Mela is an annual fair held in April-May in the town of Dwarahat (Almora). The Syalde Bikhauti Mela is held in two phases; the first in the Vimandeshwar Temple and the other in the Dwarahat marketplace. During the mela, one can witness folk dances and songs with traditional foliage being adorned by the gathered people. An important ritual, 'Oda Bhetna' refers to the striking of the stone (Oda).

As per legend, the ancient times saw people worship their deity in a temple nearby and due to some friction between the followers of the two groups, a brawl broke out that lead to bloodshed. The leader of the group that lost the fight was beheaded and a stone (Oda) was placed near it to commemorate the fallen leader. The numerous traditions on display and the lip-smacking Indian delicacy of 'Jalebi' being an integral part of the fair, the Syalde Bikhauti Mela is one of cultural convergence.

 

25. The International Yoga Festival

The International Yoga Festival is the celebration of the calming and refreshing art of Yoga. The celebration of this Festival is a pleasant occasion planned on the shorelines of River Ganges in the middle of a spiritual atmosphere. The festival strives for the concord of the body, mind and soul. It observes some of the prehistoric techniques and assemblies of the art of yoga and meditation. It noticeable topographies comprise sessions on Pranayama, Hatha Yoga and Yog Nidra.

 

26. Uttarayani Mela

 

The second week of January, the auspicious day of Makar Sankranti marks the onset of the Uttarayani Mela which is held in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand (Bageshwar, Ranibagh, Hanseswari and so forth). The Bagnath Temple in Bageshwar serves as the ground for the fair which usually spans for a week. Festivities and cultural heritage of the area is illustrated by a plethora of local artists singing Jhoras, Chancharis and Bairas (folklore). Local produce such as iron and copper vessels, baskets, casks, mattresses and many more items can be purchased while at the fair. According to the local people of the area, when the sun moves from the Southern Hemisphere to the Northern Hemisphere, a dip in the river's water is reckoned to be auspicious and claims to cleanse the spirit.

 

27. Vat Savitri

Vat Savitri is another famous festival in Uttarakhand. During this, married women fast for an entire day for the welfare and prosperity of their husbands and offer prayers to the deity Savitri and a banyan tree or bat. In the Hindu religion, the Banyan tree is considered holy. The origin of this festival can be traced to the Mahabharata in which Savitri, whose husband Satyavan died within a year of their marriage, fasts and prays and finally her devotion pays off as her husband returns from the dead. It is under the banyan tree that this act takes place. This festival takes place on Amavasya (day of the full moon) in the month of Jyestha, i.e., June.