Local Festival
The predominantly Hindu populated state, Himachal Pradesh hosts several traditional festivals in its various towns at different times of the year. In addition to the festivals celebrated by Hindu's in all parts of the world, the state has its own traditional festivals that are unique to the people and geography of the region. Idol worship which as per some accounts started in Himachal in the Kullu valley is a very significant part of the festivals. However in addition to the religious and tribal practices, the festivals offer a valuable resource to study the culture, traditions, ecology and evolution of the societies in this part of the world.
Some of the festivals are relatively well known outside the state but none of them attract outside visitors in significant numbers. The festivals are extremely successful in bringing together members of the local communities and neighboring villages and townships and serve the purpose of keeping alive traditional customs and belief systems. Most of the fairs and festivals are connected with seasonal changes or linked to folklore. These fairs offer a clear glimpse into the lives, the beliefs and the popular customs of the rural life in Himachal. Each district has its own sequence of annual fairs which are connected with the historical and sociological background of that area. There are some 2000 deities worshipped in Himachal Pradesh and numerous festivals are held in their honour. The villagers bring idols of their deities called ‘ Devi’ (female) and ‘Devata’ (male) to the festivals and offer prayers to them. Aside of that, the usual fanfare of festivals; including food, shops and entertainment, are there.
There seems to be good reason to better communicate and present these festivals to the outside world.
1. Any attempt at further understanding, exploring and utilizing the resources of these beautiful and majestic mountains needs an understanding of the local population. To this end a truly inclusive and open festival format will go a long way. As a result of a lack of awareness of and attendance at these festivals, many practices around conservation, local architectural styles and materials, belief systems and human ecological balance of the communities with the mountainous terrain of the Himalayas remains outside of popular discourse and very remote to mainstream knowledge about the area.
2. Even though the festivals have an important place in the lives of the people in Himachal they are untapped resources as far as furthering the tourism industry is concerned which would bring significant economic advantage to the people.
3. Local Himachal cuisine, handicrafts, garments and produce need a wider market and audience to expand their footprint and encourage innovation in textiles, craft and even winter sports and mountaineering. Festivals are a good avenue to address these needs.
4. Greater access to outside knowhow and economic and scientific expertise will immensely help the local people to develop sustainable economic models that help them explore and utilize the local resources.
With the exception of the festival in Shimla, most other festivals are either set in remote locations not readily accessed or even if access is not a constraint, the towns or villages are not priority locations for the tourists as they haven’t always been advertised well enough.
Brief notes on some of the key festivals in the state:
Kullu Dussehra: Held in October in the Kullu valley, the festival is the most well known of the Himachal festivals. About 200 deities of the valley collect in the Kullu town for the festival. Lord Raghunath considered the ruling deity of the Kullu valley since the 17th century is the key idol worshipped. The festival is 7 days long.
Lavi: The Lavi fair is held in Rampur, Himachal Pradesh. Lavi fair largely popular for the trade and exhibition of special goods and products is held in great esteem and is celebrated with much fanfare. Rampur accompanied by river Satluj has been a major trading route for India. The town has maintained this age-old tradition and has been hosting the International Lavi Fair for more than 300 years. Rampur was traditionally the gateway to routes towards Kinnaur, Tibet, Ladakh and Afghanistan. Even till date, many goods like wool, dry fruits and other products are bought and sold through this trading destination. After the trade came to a standstill few years back, it lost its glory which was again restored after the Lavi fair started here. The fair is held in November.
Summer Festival Shimla: Celebrated towards the end of May in the state capital, this festival is different in that it brings performers from Indian popular culture including Bollywood and even performers from abroad. The festival is hosted at the peak tourist season in the summer months when local tourists from the hot Indian plains head to the hills for a break. The festival does include stalls with local garments, handicrafts and produce, but the main attractions are the evening shows of popular culture including fashion shows, concerts and performances.
Minjar Mela: Organized in Chamba Valley in August to offer thanks and ask His blessings for a good yield of crops. The fair runs for a week and its highlight is the folk singing and dancing. The offerings to Gods include a rupee, a seasonal fruit, a coconut, and a 'Minjar', made up of sherfs of paddy and golden silk wrapped in red fabric.
Shivratri: Annual 7 day festival in Mandi town celebrated around the month of February. Deities from 81 temples from neighboring areas come to Mandi town for this festival. The festival is extremely popular and draws huge crowds from adjoining areas.
Himalayan International Festival: Indo Tibetan Friendship Association Dharamshala organizes a 3 day Kangra Festival with the blessings of His Holiness Dalai Lama in December.
Note: Please note most Himachal festivals are celebrated as per the Indian Hindu calendar, the dates are therefore different each year as per the Gregorian Lunar calendar.
Some of the festivals are relatively well known outside the state but none of them attract outside visitors in significant numbers. The festivals are extremely successful in bringing together members of the local communities and neighboring villages and townships and serve the purpose of keeping alive traditional customs and belief systems. Most of the fairs and festivals are connected with seasonal changes or linked to folklore. These fairs offer a clear glimpse into the lives, the beliefs and the popular customs of the rural life in Himachal. Each district has its own sequence of annual fairs which are connected with the historical and sociological background of that area. There are some 2000 deities worshipped in Himachal Pradesh and numerous festivals are held in their honour. The villagers bring idols of their deities called ‘ Devi’ (female) and ‘Devata’ (male) to the festivals and offer prayers to them. Aside of that, the usual fanfare of festivals; including food, shops and entertainment, are there.
There seems to be good reason to better communicate and present these festivals to the outside world.
1. Any attempt at further understanding, exploring and utilizing the resources of these beautiful and majestic mountains needs an understanding of the local population. To this end a truly inclusive and open festival format will go a long way. As a result of a lack of awareness of and attendance at these festivals, many practices around conservation, local architectural styles and materials, belief systems and human ecological balance of the communities with the mountainous terrain of the Himalayas remains outside of popular discourse and very remote to mainstream knowledge about the area.
2. Even though the festivals have an important place in the lives of the people in Himachal they are untapped resources as far as furthering the tourism industry is concerned which would bring significant economic advantage to the people.
3. Local Himachal cuisine, handicrafts, garments and produce need a wider market and audience to expand their footprint and encourage innovation in textiles, craft and even winter sports and mountaineering. Festivals are a good avenue to address these needs.
4. Greater access to outside knowhow and economic and scientific expertise will immensely help the local people to develop sustainable economic models that help them explore and utilize the local resources.
With the exception of the festival in Shimla, most other festivals are either set in remote locations not readily accessed or even if access is not a constraint, the towns or villages are not priority locations for the tourists as they haven’t always been advertised well enough.
Brief notes on some of the key festivals in the state:
Kullu Dussehra: Held in October in the Kullu valley, the festival is the most well known of the Himachal festivals. About 200 deities of the valley collect in the Kullu town for the festival. Lord Raghunath considered the ruling deity of the Kullu valley since the 17th century is the key idol worshipped. The festival is 7 days long.
Lavi: The Lavi fair is held in Rampur, Himachal Pradesh. Lavi fair largely popular for the trade and exhibition of special goods and products is held in great esteem and is celebrated with much fanfare. Rampur accompanied by river Satluj has been a major trading route for India. The town has maintained this age-old tradition and has been hosting the International Lavi Fair for more than 300 years. Rampur was traditionally the gateway to routes towards Kinnaur, Tibet, Ladakh and Afghanistan. Even till date, many goods like wool, dry fruits and other products are bought and sold through this trading destination. After the trade came to a standstill few years back, it lost its glory which was again restored after the Lavi fair started here. The fair is held in November.
Summer Festival Shimla: Celebrated towards the end of May in the state capital, this festival is different in that it brings performers from Indian popular culture including Bollywood and even performers from abroad. The festival is hosted at the peak tourist season in the summer months when local tourists from the hot Indian plains head to the hills for a break. The festival does include stalls with local garments, handicrafts and produce, but the main attractions are the evening shows of popular culture including fashion shows, concerts and performances.
Minjar Mela: Organized in Chamba Valley in August to offer thanks and ask His blessings for a good yield of crops. The fair runs for a week and its highlight is the folk singing and dancing. The offerings to Gods include a rupee, a seasonal fruit, a coconut, and a 'Minjar', made up of sherfs of paddy and golden silk wrapped in red fabric.
Shivratri: Annual 7 day festival in Mandi town celebrated around the month of February. Deities from 81 temples from neighboring areas come to Mandi town for this festival. The festival is extremely popular and draws huge crowds from adjoining areas.
Himalayan International Festival: Indo Tibetan Friendship Association Dharamshala organizes a 3 day Kangra Festival with the blessings of His Holiness Dalai Lama in December.
Note: Please note most Himachal festivals are celebrated as per the Indian Hindu calendar, the dates are therefore different each year as per the Gregorian Lunar calendar.