Festivals of Himachal Pradesh

1. Halda festival

 One of the most prevalent events in Himachal Pradesh is the Halda festival, which honors Shashikar Apa, the wealth goddess. 

The people of Himachal Pradesh celebrate this Festival on the first day of the New Year. During the day, there is a special ceremony where people believe in the goddess and ask for her blessings. 

At night, there are musicals, bonfires, dancing shows, strong drinks, and a big feast. 

As part of the ancient ritual, every house in the district has to introduce lit cedar twigs, which are then thrown into a bonfire when everyone gathers at a place chosen by the Lama. Fire is a sign of peace and unity in the community.

When and where: December or January in the Lahaul. 

2. Kullu Dussehra

The core of Dusshera, which is that good won over evil, is the same all over the country, but how it is celebrated changes. 

Instead of doing what everyone else does, which is to burn an image of the devil king Ravana, the people of the Kullu Valley honor Lord Raghunath.

The conventional Kullu Dusshera lasts for seven days. It starts with Lord Raghunath and other village goddesses and gods being carried through the town on a nicely decorated chariot. In the days that follow, people dance, sing, and eat. 

There are also cultural events like the international folk festival, the Nainadevi fair, and the Kullu fair. Folk performances by Gaddi shepherds are a must-see.

When and where: October (starts on the tenth day of the Dussehra and continues for a week) Dhalpur Maidan, Kullu This festival of Himachal Pradesh is most popular among local people.

3. Losar

While the rest of the world celebrates the New Year with parties, the monasteries of Himachal Pradesh have their magnificent way of welcoming the New Year: the Losar festival also called Tibetan New Year.

During the festival, people worship the holy deity of a monastery to bring happiness, peace, and luck for the coming year. And the festivities are a mix of ancient customs and rituals that show something about Tibetan beliefs and culture.

These include colorful mask dances by the Lamas, chanting, drama, prayers, Tibetan opera, folk music, and many other traditional performances.

When and where:  February, Monasteries all over Himachal Pradesh

4. Sazo festival

Sazo festival, which is held in January, people say goodbye to their village gods. On this day, temples don't open their doors. 

On this happy day, people believe that the gods go to heaven to take a short nap and send their blessings to people on earth. People of faith get together to wash the floors of holy temples to get the blessings. 

The villagers live in bliss and welcome the highly respected priests with open arms. In return, the priests give them food, grains, and other gifts. This is called Deacher and Deokhel.

When and where:  This is mostly celebrated by people from the village of Haldih, and it takes place in January and February.

5. Doongri Fair

Spring is celebrated at the Doongri Fair, also called the "Hadimba Devi Fair," because it takes place at the Hadimba Mandir in Kullu.

This fair is an explosion of color that fills the whole Valley of the Gods (Kully Valley). At this period of the year, the region comes alive with bright flowers, lush greenery, and new leaves, making for a beautiful sight.

Aside from the flowers, people come from worldwide to see dance and music performances by local artists.

When and where: May, Kullu Valley

6. Pori festival lahual

The Pori Festival is held every year in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh in the north.

It is a big deal in the Lahaul Valley, where it is celebrated in a way that stands out in many ways. The Festival will take place on July 13th this year.

7. Minjar fair Chamba

Himachal Pradesh has a lot of festivals, and the Minjar Fair is among them. The best place to celebrate it is in Chamba, where everyone gets very excited about it. 

It is a celebration of farming in Himachal Pradesh. Indian history says that when the Raja of Chamba returned to Chamba in 935 A.D. after conquering the King of Trigarta, 

which is now known as Kangra and is another district in Himachal Pradesh, the people welcomed him with bundles of the maize and paddy. 

That time the Minjar fair was celebrated for the first time. Now, the fair is held as quickly as the young rice and corn shoots come up from the ground. 

8. Himachal winter carnival

For more than 30 years, Himachal Winter Carnival has made Manali a great place for people who love adventure and culture. It began as a simple and small carnival in 1977. 

Now it is the most prevalent Festival in the region and brings in thousands of people every year. This carnival features folk dances, street plays, music, and food from the state to show its culture.

The carnival also has skiing championships, band competitions, beauty contests, adventure sports, a food festival, and a craft bazaar.

When and where: People celebrate it in January and mostly in Manali.

9. La Darcha Fair

La Darcha Festival is among those special events with both a cultural and a business side. Traders from Kinnaur, Kullu, and Lahaul come to this Festival for several days in August.

The Festival is all about bringing together the cultures of Spiti and Ladakh, which is also where it takes place. Here, you can see everything unique to this area, from artifacts to handicrafts to unspoiled culture.

10. Kasol music festival

Kasol is a small village in the Kullu district of Himachal, close to Parvary Valley. It is the kind of place that gets you in the mood for a whole night of partying.

Kasol is known for its beautiful nature and the Kasol Music Festival, which lasts for two days straight. Every year, this pop culture occasion is held to celebrate the start of a new year and to embrace the new year. 

People who like art and music should go to this celebration at least once.

When and where: January, Kasol. 

11. Sair festival

It is a prevalent cultural festival held in Himachal to celebrate the end of the harvest, get ready for a happy winter, and bring the Gods back to earth from heaven. 

The night before, people start getting ready for the morning Pooja. People add their harvest to the Puja ingredients, which can be things like maize, lemon, guava, and wheat. 

The wheat is spread on the plate, and each fruit is put on top. The next morning, a Babar goes from house to house with the statue of Sair Devi.

People give them some money and the season's harvest. During the Festival, people also buy tools and clothes and cook special dishes.

12. Summer festival

A summer festival is a five-day event held every year in June to mark the start of the hill state's hot summer. 

The name of the Shimla Summer Festival, which took place in 1960 in India's summer capital, seems to come from the season.  It is one of the biggest festivals in Himachal Pradesh and has a lot of things to see and do that draw tourists.

The Festival starts with a half marathon, and then there are a lot of sports and cultural events. 

When and where: May/June, Shimla

13. Mandi Shivaratri Fair

The Mandi Shivaratri Mela continues for 7 days in Himachal. It is usually held on the thirteenth night of the Krishna Paksha, and that is the start of Shivaratri. 

This fair is mostly about showing off the rich culture of gods and getting the most out of the religious fervor. It turns the area of Mandi into a big traditional party, which is why the people love it so much. 

During this Festival, over 200 deities from the Mandi district gather on the day of Shivaratri.

14. Lavi Fair

Shimla's Rampur district is where the Lavi Fair is held. It is a festival that lasts four days and usually happens in November. The Lavi fair has been going on for 400 years.

It started when the Raja Kehari Singh of the state of Rampur Bushahr signed a treaty to make trade with Tibet easier. This fair has been an important place for trade between Tibet and India for hundreds of years. 

It has been a different example of the state of Himachal Pradesh's rich social, cultural, and economic history. It is the largest trade show in all of the Himalayas. 

The fair is a good place to sell woolen, dried fruits, and other traditional arts and goods. Also, these trade fairs give rural people in the area and nearby the chance to work for themselves.

15. Renuka Fair

In the first two weeks of November, for three days, the colorful Renuka Festival takes place. The palanquin is an essential part of this Himachal festival. 

On the 1st day, the Parashurama's idol is carried from the village Jamu to the banks of River Giri in an embellished silver palanquin. Other local gods get to the spot a long time before the palanquin does. 

Then, they all go to the site of the carnival together, and the celebrations keep going in a happy mood. After the crops are picked, people also trade local goods at this Festival. Kasauli,

which is decorated with bright colors that create this area look even more beautiful, is where this fair is held.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. How many festivals are celebrated in Himachal Pradesh? 

All of the people who live in Himachal Pradesh come together to celebrate at least fifteen festivals, and maybe even more.

Fairs and festivals of Himachal Pradesh are important from a cultural, historical, and economic point of view because they are a big part of the lives of the people who live there.

Q2. What are the specialties of Himachal Pradesh?

Himachal Pradesh is very popular for its natural scenery, hill stations, and temples.

Q3. Which Himachal Pradesh Festival is known as the Festival of pictures ?

Chaitraul Festival is held in the Sirmaur area in April and May. This Festival is known as the "festival of pictures."

Q4. Why do we celebrate Himachal day?

On April 15, Himachal Pradesh celebrates Himachal Day. On this day, the state officially became a state.

For all the information related to Festivals of Himachal Pradesh, read the above article completely.