Uttarakhand is a land of mountains, rivers, and rich culture. People here celebrate many festivals throughout the year. These are not just religious events, but also folk festivals that reflect the local traditions, music, dance, and way of life. Each festival has a story, a purpose, and a special way of being celebrated. From the hills of Garhwal to the valleys of Kumaon, these folk festivals bring people together and keep the old customs alive.
Ghughutiya & Uttarayani
As per Hindu beliefs, this day marks the start of Uttarayan, when the sun enters the zodiac sign of Makar (Capricorn) and begins its northward journey. It is considered an auspicious time that brings longer days, warmth, and renewal.
People wake up early to offer water to the rising sun. A special part of the celebration is the making of til ke laddoo (sesame sweets) and khichdi (rice and lentil preparation), which are shared with family and neighbors. One of the most unique traditions in Kumaon is the making of Ghughute—deep-fried sweets shaped like birds, swords, drums, and other figures. Children string these sweets into garlands and wear them around their necks, offering some to crows early in the morning (who are considered as messengers of the gods and ancestors). This charming custom adds a playful and symbolic touch to the day.
The famous Uttarayani Mela is also held during this time in some towns, where people gather to trade, sing folk songs, perform traditional dances, and celebrate community life. It is more than a festival—it is a beautiful reflection of Kumaoni culture, faith, and togetherness.
Holi
The popular festival of Holi is celebrated in a different style in our region. The celebrations last for about many days. Three popular versions of celebrating Holi are –
Baithki Holi is a unique musical celebration in Kumaon that begins on Basant Panchami and continues till Dulhendi (the full moon of Phalguna). Celebrated through sitting gatherings, it features soulful Holi songs rooted in classical ragas blended with Kumaoni folk traditions, creating a rich cultural experience. It begins in temple courtyards, where Holiyars—singers of Holi songs—gather with others to sing devotional and festive compositions, accompanied by instruments like the harmonium and tabla. These musical gatherings, or baithaks, are later hosted in community halls and even in local homes, turning the festival into an intimate and collective celebration of music, culture, and togetherness.
Khadi Holi (Standing Holi) begins a little later than Baithki Holi and is a vibrant celebration marked by music, dance, and traditional attire. Men, dressed in white nokdaar topis, churidar pyjamas, and kurtas, form singing groups called tolis. They go from house to house, singing folk Holi songs and dancing to the rhythmic beats of ethnic instruments like the dhol and hurka. Primarily celebrated in rural Kumaon, Khadi Holi fills the air with festive energy and strengthens social bonds through shared music, laughter, and movement. It is a living expression of Kumaoni cultural identity.
Mahila Holi is a women-led celebration, similar in format to Baithki Holi, but exclusively organized and performed by women. Gathered in intimate groups, the women of Kumaon sing songs that revolve around love, devotion, and spiritual union, creating a soulful and graceful atmosphere that reflects both tradition and togetherness.
The popular practice of playing with colors has gradually blended with local traditions, and now the final day of Holi often includes vibrant color play, especially in urban areas. The festivities conclude with traditional rituals like the ritual fire in the evening, the spirited fun of colours, and the warm exchange of good wishes, bringing the joyful celebration to a meaningful close.
Phool Dei
Phool Dei is a joyful festival of Uttarakhand that marks the arrival of spring and celebrates the season’s first harvest. Observed on the first day of the Hindu month of Chaitra (March–April), it is both a springtime and a harvest festival. As nature begins to bloom with fresh flowers, the festival reflects the region’s deep connection to the land, seasons, and community life.
A special sweet dish called Dei is prepared for the occasion. Made from jaggery (gud), curd, and flour, this ceremonial pudding holds an important place in the celebrations and is shared among family and neighbors.
Young girls play a central role in Phool Dei. Dressed in traditional attire, they visit homes in their village carrying plates filled with rice, jaggery, and coconut, singing the cheerful Phool Dei folk songs. They sprinkle flowers and rice at the doorsteps, offering blessings for prosperity and happiness. In return, the households offer them sweets, food, and blessings.
फूल देई, चम्मा देई, देनो द्वार, भूर भाकर,
वो देई सेइ नमस्कार, पूजा द्वार।
This traditional verse is sung by young girls during the Phool Dei festival as they go from house to house, blessing each home with offerings of flowers and rice. It is both a song and a prayer for abundance, peace, and well-being. It means – May flowers and blessings be offered at your doorstep, May your home be filled with food, happiness, and prosperity. We greet you with respect through this sacred festival, For your home is worthy of worship
This heartwarming tradition not only celebrates the changing season but also strengthens community bonds and passes on folk customs to the younger generation.
Bhitauli
As spring arrives and farmers begin preparing their fields for the next planting season, this festival marks a time of renewal, both in nature and in familial bonds.
The word Bhitauli refers to the symbolic gifts that married women send or bring for their brothers. These tokens of love may include small sums of money, handmade flower bouquets, or traditional items. In return, brothers offer blessings and thoughtful gifts to their sisters.
Bhitauli is more than just an exchange of presents—it’s a heartfelt expression of sibling affection and a reaffirmation of the emotional ties that bind families together. The ritual reflects the warmth, respect, and enduring connection shared between brothers and sisters, even after marriage has taken them to separate households.
Vat Savitri
On this day, married women observe a day-long fast and offer prayers for the long life, well-being, and prosperity of their husbands. The rituals are dedicated to Goddess Savitri and performed around the sacred Vat (banyan) tree, which holds great spiritual importance in Hindu tradition.
The festival finds its roots in the epic Mahabharata, where the story of Savitri and Satyavan is told. According to the legend, Savitri’s husband, Satyavan, was destined to die within a year of their marriage. Through her unwavering devotion, fasting, and prayers beneath a banyan tree, Savitri pleads with Yama, the god of death, and ultimately succeeds in bringing her husband back to life.
Vat Savitri is observed on the day of Amavasya (new moon) in the Hindu month of Jyestha (usually in June). The banyan tree, symbolizing longevity and strength, becomes the center of the ritual, as women tie sacred threads around it and seek blessings for a long and happy married life.
Harela
This is another traditional festival of Uttarakhand, marking the onset of the monsoon and the beginning of the sowing season. Rooted in the worship of Lord Shiva and Parvati, the name Harela comes from the Kumaoni words Hari (Shiva) and Ela (earth), symbolizing fertility and prosperity.
To celebrate, people sow barley seeds in small pots or baskets ten days before the festival. The sprouted barley, known as Harela, is considered sacred and offered during prayers. These green shoots are also tucked behind ears as a blessing.
In certain parts of Almora, there’s a tradition called giving Og (Oga), where newly married couples visit the bride’s maternal home carrying fruits, vegetables, and seasonal produce. This gesture symbolizes goodwill, gratitude, and the strengthening of family ties.
The festival blends religious devotion with agricultural tradition. Families prepare seasonal dishes using fresh vegetables from the fields, reflecting gratitude for the earth’s bounty. Harela embodies a deep respect for nature, the cycle of seasons, and the divine forces believed to nourish life.
Ghee Sankranti,
Also known as Olgia, it is a traditional festival celebrated in mid-August across Kumaon and Garhwal, marking the sun’s entry into Leo (Singh Rashi). It symbolizes harvest, strength, and gratitude. Traditionally, tenants and artisans offered gifts to their landlords, and families consumed food rich in ghee and grains. Eating chapatis with ghee and jaggery is a key ritual, believed to promote health as the season shifts. The festival reflects the agrarian values of abundance, respect, and seasonal change.
Khatarua
This is a traditional agricultural festival celebrated in mid-September, primarily in the villages of Kumaon, Uttarakhand. Observed on the first day of Ashwin (Hindu calendar), it marks the onset of autumn and is celebrated with great joy, especially by children and farming communities.
The festival begins with cleaning and bathing livestock, reflecting the community’s respect for animals as a source of livelihood. Bonfires are lit and carried around animal shelters to ward off evil spirits, and ashes from the fire are applied to the foreheads of animals as a symbolic blessing for good health.
Children play a central role, dancing around the fire with colorful flags, singing folk songs like “Bhaillau Ji Bhaillau”, and burning flower-adorned effigies. The celebrations end with the distribution of local fruits like kakdi (cucumber) as prasad, expressing gratitude for the harvest and hope for prosperity.
An age-old legend also links Khatarua to the victory of King Baz Bahadur Chand of Kumaon over the Garhwal forces. The bonfires lit after the victory signaled triumph to Almora. Even today, villagers shout “Khatarua!” as they light the bonfire, proudly echoing the spirit of victory.
Almora Dusherra
Dussehra in Almora is one of the most iconic and culturally rich celebrations in Uttarakhand. Unlike the typical Ramlila-style Dussehra seen in other parts of India, Almora’s version stands out for its vibrant procession of handmade effigies (Akhadas) representing various demons from the Ramayana. These effigies are artistically crafted by local communities and carried through the town accompanied by music, drums, and dancing. On Vijayadashami, when the effigies are set ablaze, symbolizing the victory of good over evil.
Egaas
Egass also known as Budhi Diwali, is celebrated in Uttarakhand 11 days after Diwali. According to local belief, news of Lord Rama’s return from exile reached the upper Himalayan villages late, and hence the celebration was delayed. In honor of this, people mark Egaas with traditional delicacies, folk dances, and the lighting of homes. A unique feature of the festival is the spinning of a fire-lit rope called “Bhailo”, swung in circles as a symbolic and festive ritual.
Apart from these folk festivals, major Hindu festivals such as Mahashivratri, Janmashtami, and Diwali are also celebrated across the region with devotion and joy. The cultural spirit of Kumaon is further enriched by traditional fairs like the iconic Nanda Devi Fair in Almora and the unique Bagwal Mela of Devidhura (Maa Barahi Temple), where rituals blend with local legend and community celebration.
