Himachal Pradesh: The Land of Age Old Festivals and Ceremonies

10 Famous and Popular Festivals and Ceremonies of Himachal Pradesh

Festivals and ceremonies are representations of culture and traditions of people residing in a particular area. And this applies to Himachal Pradesh too, the land of unsurpassed natural beauty. The cradle of ancient civilization, Himachal Pradesh was blessed by Gods and Rishis (sages) who chose to make it their abode due to its tranquil and breathtaking surroundings.

The culture of Himachal flourished and evolved over the course of thousands of years. Protected and nursed by kings of different dynasties and practiced passionately by the people here, the rich cultural legacy of Himachal passed down from one generation to another. In this way, its culture and traditions managed to survive right up to this day. Himachalis feel proud to acknowledge that they have a living and thriving culture which has not changed much since ages.?

The culture of HImachal is visible in every aspect of life that is led by people, especially in the villages of this mountainous state. But festivals and ceremonies are the best way to showcase as well as understand the rich culture of Himachal.?

Some of them are :-?

Maal Pune?

In this ceremony, cows are worshiped and a garland of flowers is tied on their neck. Cows play an important role in the subsistence and economy of villages of this state. So Maal Pune is a way to acknowledge and honor the contribution of cattle in the life of villagers here.?

Krishan Janmasthami?

Like in other parts of India, Krishan Janmasthami is celebrated with great reverence and religious fervor in Himachal Pradesh. People visit temples, pray before Lord Krishna? and other deities there and pull the swing where the idol newly born Baal Krishna is placed. Children dress up as Baby Krishna. Also, various traditional food items like Bhali are prepared to celebrate this extremely popular Hindu religious festival.?

Prashar Sarnhuli Mela

Prashar Sarnhuli Mela is organized every year during the summer season to pray and worship Rishi (Sage) Prashar who especially chose this particular place in Mandi for meditation. Home to holy Prashar lake and temple, this place is deeply revered by the people of Himachal as well as people from other places in India and abroad.?

Apart from being a center for religious activities, Prashar Sarnahuli festival also brings financial benefits to traders by giving them the opportunity to sell various goods to devotees arriving here.?

Paidai

In Paidai, a kind of religious ceremony, a tree trunk is uprooted from some other place and its bark is removed. Then the trunk is brought to the village for placing it in the temple premises. Before erecting it at the designated place, the trunk is tied with a branch of another tree with green leaves.?

The whole activity is collaboratively performed by many people as it requires gargantuan human effort. The ceremony is performed amidst the beating of drums and playing of other musical instruments. Also, various deities that are brought to the village from surrounding villages on sedans and they are worshiped on this occasion.?

Mandi Shivratri Mela

Organized on the eve of Shivratri in the Mandi town, Mandi Shivratri festival is one of the most important religious events of Himachal Pradesh. The festival is also of tremendous historical significance as it started during the reign of? Raja (King) Ajbar Sen, the first great king of Mandi State who ruled it in the 16th century.

People from all over the state and even beyond come to take part in this popular religious festival. It gives them the opportunity to bow before, pray and worship hundreds of Gods and deities that have converged here from different places in Himachal as a part of ages old tradition.

Phagli?

Held in the Upper Himachal, Phagli festival is celebrated to ward off negative energies and evil spirits. In this event, people are dressed as funny characters and carry out various fun-laced activities rhythmically against the beating of drums and playing of other musical instruments. It is a must-attend event if you want to know more about the rich culture and traditions of Himachal Pradesh.?

Budi Diwali

This religious festival is held to honor the Gods who arrive on earth during the time of the festival. Budi Diwali is held after every 3 years and in 12 years. Thin sticks of wood are first collected from forest, fastened together with thin rope-like material and then lit up with fire at night. The villagers dance together carrying these fire-carrying sticks amidst the beating of musical instruments.?

Makar Sankrati

The way of celebrating Makar Sankrati in Himachal Pradesh is different from how it is celebrated in other parts of India. Apart from cooking of traditional food items, this festival also involves elders giving food items, etc. as gifts to children when they give them grass leaves. The spontaneous smile arising on the children’s faces after receiving the gifts also gives tremendous happiness and satisfaction to elders.???

Shradh

Shradhs are held to remember and worship pitr (those members of the family who passed away in the past). Various food items are cooked (as Pitri Prashad) and placed in the leaves, worshiped and later placed on the roof of the house for the crows to eat.?

Wedding Ceremony

In Himachal Pradesh, wedding ceremonies of young boys and girls are performed as per ancient customs and traditions. The special attractions of a Himachali wedding ceremony are marriage rituals performed under the supervision of a priest, delicious food items in a Dham and traditional Nati dance performed on energetic and peppy Pahadi music.?

If you get an opportunity to attend a Himachali wedding ceremony, don’t miss it at all. It will give you an opportunity to view and understand old and glorious Himachali culture from close quarters besides letting you enjoy outstanding food, music and dance.?

These are not the only festivals and ceremonies that are held in Himachal. There are many more that should have found a place in the above list, but couldn’t be accommodated due to the constraints of time and space. Some of these festivals and ceremonies include world-famous Kullu Ka Dussehra, Akhrot Ka Mela, Saje, Lohri, etc.?

You may be curious to know more about many more such festivals, ceremonies and events that are part of the rich culture and traditions of Himachal Pradesh. The best place to know more about them is this youtube channel that has been created and produced by Ravi Rajput, a dynamic and forward thinking young man, a native of a beautiful village in Choti Kashi, Himachal Pradesh.?

Cultural ambassador of Himachal, Ravi is making exceptional efforts to share the true picture of Himachal Pradesh with the rest of the world. Only with your help and support, he can achieve his grand mission of popularizing and showcasing the rich cultural legacy of Himachal all over the world. So join him in his noble motive and be a part of his success story. We need more passionate and supportive people like you to help Himachal Pradesh reach its full glory and potential.?