FAIRS & FESTIVALS Highlight : Kumbh Mela, International Yoga Week Major Festivals : Makar Sankranti, Basant Panchami Destinations : Rishikesh and Haridwar What To Do : Shopping, Trying Local Cuisine

The Most Famous Festival in Uttaranchal - Kumbh Mela

Kumbh Mela

Arts Crafts

Uttaranchal Fairs and Festivals – The Colorful Palette of Uttaranchal

The famous fairs and festivals of Uttaranchal are the main reasons behind the colorful culture of the state. Take up festive tours of Uttaranchal, which is the best time to enjoy the folk culture of the Himalayan state. Fairs and festival have since ages have been the prime attraction and have aroused the tourists interest to know more about the Uttaranchal acculturation. The ancient beliefs that have been passed on from one gen to the other and temples that are dotted all over the hill station,adds more colour to these festive celebrations. Uttaranchal is ubiquitous with fairs and festivals of that are mostly held together.

Kumbh Mela – The Prime Among Them All

When talking about festival and fairs in Uttaranchal, one cannot miss mentioning the grandest event that combines every aspect of celebration. The Kumbh Mela of Haridwar is held once in 12 years and is the largest concentration of Humans for a religious purpose, in the world. Tourists from all over the world flock here to have a look of the mystical rituals that grip the people during this famous fair. Lighting of floating lamps, the Maha Aatri on ghats of Ganges, visiting the various temple attractions are just some of these activities that renders the hearts of the spectator.

Entrance Archway to the Popular International Yoga Week Festival

International Yoga Week – Creating a Niche in the World

This is the most crowd gathering event in Uttaranchal, that is held during the fist week of February. Held in the religious town of Rishikesh which is also known as the 'Yoga Capital of the World', tons of tourists participate in this festival to learn Yoga. This ancient art of healthy mind and body is gaining recognition all over the world. During this festival lectures and demonstrations by the Yoga masters are conducted and discussions programmes along with cultural performances are organised.

The Festive Celebrations That Marks its Zenith in Uttaranchal Culture

The popular festival in Uttaranchal are more or less the ones that are typically celebrated in North India. Among them are Makar Sankranti celebrated in January. During this festival people take dip in the holy Ganges and Khichdi (a dish made of rice and pulses) are distributed among the poor. Another common festival is Basant Panchami when Goddess Saraswati is worshipped. During this festival people are clad in Yellow clothers and the sight of people drenched in the bright color is wonderful. You should not miss trying Keasr Halwa during this festival.
The local festival of the state comprise Phool Dei. In the month of March, this festival is dedicated to young girls, who go from house to house with plates full of rice, jaggery, coconut, green leaves and flowers to disseminate blessings. The festival of Harela and Bhaitauli where women fill baskets with soil and sow seven different kind of seeds in them. During this time the brothers also present their sister with gifts. On the occasion of Olgia, celebrated during the month of August, wherein presents are exchanged and people eat chapatis with ghee and urad dal (pulse) filled in it. The festival specifically for married women is Bal Savitri, where the holy tree Banyan is worshipped. The most famous festive celebrations in Uttaranchal is perhaps the Ganga Dussehra when people take holy dips in the water of the pious Ganges. Celebrated in June, during this festival river Ganga is idolized.

People Indulged in Festival Dance in Uttaranchal

Fairs in Uttaranchal – Adding Hues to the Glorious Events

To get a glimpse of the most exotic culture of Uttaranchal, take up fair tours where you will get a chance to participate in the various fairs that are held in the state almost all the year round. The most important fair in Uttaranchal is fair of Jauljibi and Thal that takes place during the month of November. The place where this fair is held is religiously significant. This fair marks cultural fusion as many traders from Nepal come to sell horses, ghee and take back food grains and jaggery.
The Uttarayani fair is a famous commercial center that is held in many parts of Uttaranchal. This fair plays a major role is shaping the cultural and social fabric of this hill station where items like iron and copper pots, baskets, casks, bamboo articles, mats, mattresses, carpets, blankets, herbs and spices are traded during the fair. Music and dance is also an important aspect of this fair.
Another famous fair is Nanda Devi fair, held in the month of September. The major attraction of this fair are procession that carry the idol of goddess, folk traditions of Uttaranchal people and the local music and dance.