Uttarakhand Festivals | Festivals of Uttrakhand

The love for color and joyous celebrations of the people of Uttarakhand is well reflected by the elaborate rituals and the gay abandon with which they surrender themselves to the numerous festivals of the region. The people of Uttarakhand with much enthusiasm and ebullience celebrate all the major festivals of the nation. The colorful festivals celebrated in the state therefore curb the culture of Uttarakhand out. The festivals of Uttarakhand have contributed to the enrichment of the state.

Following are festivals and there description which are celebrated in Uttrakhand :


Basant Panchami - This is one of the most important religious festivals of Uttarakhand and celebrates the coming of the spring season. The festive season marks the end of the winters which symbolizes death and decay. It usually falls in the Hindu month of Magh or English months of January/February. During this auspicious occasion the people worship Goddess Saraswati with much veneration. The locals adorn themselves in yellow outfits and some even put yellow `tikas` on their foreheads. This grand festival in some places marks the beginning of Holi baithaks.

Bhitauli - This festival of Uttarakhand is feted in the month of Chaitra according to the Hindu calendar. it falls on the very first day of Shravan and is celebrated with much pomp and show all over the state. It is a grand festival of sharing gifts from the brothers to their sisters. The religious rites and rituals during this festival are celebrated with much veneration.

Phool Dei - This is one of the most special festivals of Uttarakhand and is celebrated on the first day of the month of Chaitra in mid March. This special day belongs to the young girls as they are seen conducting most of the ceremonies. The festive celebrations in some regions are observed for the whole month with the advent of the spring. The young girls during this festival goes to the all the houses in the locality with plates consisting of rice, coconut, jaggery, flowers and green leaves and offer their good wishes for the prosperity of the household. They are also given blessings and presents and return. A pudding made of curd, flour and jaggery is a special delicacy of this festival. Spring songs sung during this festival enhance the festive spirit.

Makar Sankranti - read more..

Olgia/Ghee Sankranti - This festival is celebrated on the first day of the Bhado month according to the Hindu calendar. It is during this time that the harvest is lush and green and vegetables grow in abundance. It is regarded as a very important festival of the agriculturalists and they celebrate this festival with much pomp and show. Various agricultural tools are exchanged on this day. People put ghee on their foreheads and also consume chapattis made of ghee and stuffed with `urad` dal. It is also believed by the people of Tripura that walnuts become sweeter after this festival. Though this festival marks the produce of the land, it is now seldom celebrated.

Bat Savitri - This splendid festival is celebrated with much ebullience on the last day of the dark half of the month of Jyestha according to the Hindu calendar. On this special day the married females worship Savitri and Bat or Banyan tree to seek blessings for the welfare and the prosperity of their beloved husbands. The married women also observe a fast for the whole day in remembrance of Savitri and Satyavan and also remember how Savitri with her extreme dedication saved her husband from the scrabble of death.

Ganga Dussehra/Dasar - This festival is celebrated on the Shukla Dasami of the Jyestha month according to the Hindu calendar or the months of May/June according to the English calendar. On this special day the sacred River Ganga is worshipped and Dussehra posters adorn the doors of houses and temples. The hands of the much-honored Brahmins once wrote these posters but now with the progress of time they are available in an assortment of printed designs. On this auspicious day the people of Uttarakhand also bathe in the holy rivers.

Hill Yatra - It can be regarded as a festival of pastoralists and agriculturalists. This festival came from the Sorar region of West Nepal to the Sor valley and was first introduced in the Kumaour village. It is regarded by the locals of Uttarakhand as a living tradition and care should be taken to preserve its style in a rapidly changing society. Animal sacrifices also form an important aspect of this much-awaited festival. Recitation of religious hymns and performance of circle dance also known as `Chanchari` are added attractions.

Chhipla Jaat - This is one of the main festivals of Chhiplakot situated in the heartland of Kali and Gori rivers. This much-awaited festival expresses different aspects of human faith. The religious rites and rituals include barefoot journey, bath, worship, traditional songs and dances, collective food and the possession of the body of Bonia by the folk God are the essential parts of this festival.

Kandali - This is one of the most unique festivals of Uttarakhand and the people of the state celebrate this festival when the Kandali flower blooms once in every twelve years, in the months of August and October. The festive celebration spreads over a week and the Shaukas or the Rangs participate in it with much vigor and enthusiasm. This auspicious ceremony commences with the worship of the linga of Lord Shiva made of barley and buckwheat flour mixture. The courtyard of every house is beautifully adorned and the locals perform the puja with much veneration for prosperity and well-being. A procession is also taken out where the woman who leads it is armed with a ril. The cultural performance of the people echoes in the valley thus enhancing the atmosphere of joy.

Nandadevi - This is one of the most popular festivals of Uttarakhand. People from all the remotest corners of the state as well as the country comes to participate in this festival in which the main deity of worship is Goddess Nanda Devi. Worship, traditional dances and the ritual of collecting Brahkamals form a main feature of this grand festival.

Janopunya - This is one of the most important religious festivals of Uttarakhand and the people of Kumaon celebrate the Raksha Bandhan and the Janopunya on the same day. On this special day the people of the state exchange their local threads. The famous Bagwal fair is organized in the region of Devidhura in the district of Champavat. People from all the remotest corners of the state participate in this festival and fair with much fun and excitement.

Kumaon Holi - This is one of the most unique festivals of Uttarakhand and its uniqueness lies in the fact of it being a musical affair. The festive celebrations begin in the premises of the temples where the professional singers gather to sing traditional lyrics to the accompaniment of the classical music. This festival is known by two different names, Baithki Holi and the Khari Holi. The former one is celebrated with much vigor in the temple premises while the later one is celebrated in the rural areas of Kumaon.

UP Festivals | Festivals of Uttar Pradesh

The festivals of Uttar Pradesh can be redefined as a spiritual canvas of soul stirring celebration. Since times immemorial the state of Uttar Pradesh has been attracting the whole world with her rich cultural heritages and spirituality. Festivals of almost all religions are celebrated with equal splendor and cheer in the state of Uttar Pradesh. Various communities of the Indian subcontinent celebrate as many as forty festivals with complete communal harmony. No one can shy away from the simple but the enthralling charm of the festive season of Uttar Pradesh. The festivals celebrated in Uttar Pradesh embody the robust and composite cultural heritage of our nation. The time of festivals is the ideal time to listen and watch the world’s renowned artists performing live; it will be a thrilling experience to listen the traditional music and folklore in the perfect ambiance.

Diwali - It is also biggest and grandest indian festival more about diwali..

Janmashtami - birthday of Krishna - incarnation of Vishnu read more..

Navaratri - read more..

Maha Shivratri - read more..

Ganga Festival - Ganga festival is a much-awaited festival in the town of Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. This festival is celebrated on the banks of the river Ganga to worship the river. This festival is held in the month of October- November.

Hoy Ashtami - This festival comes four days after the celebration of Karva Chauth and is generally celebrated by the women for the welfare of their children.

Shitla Ashtami - Shitla Ashtami falls on the eighth day after the ‘festival of colors’, Holi and is dedicated to the goddess of smallpox. This festival is followed by Ram Navami on Chaitra Sudi Navami, which marks the birthday celebrations of Lord Rama.

Bhaiya Dooj - Bhaiya Dooj is a popular festival in Uttar Pradesh when sisters apply vermilion tika (auspicious mark) on the forehead of their brothers to mark their long lives. In turn the brothers reward them with money and other gifts. On Bhaiya Dooj weapons, pen and inkpot are also worshipped.

Karva Chauth - read more..

Bharat Milap - Bharat Milap is celebrated during the months of October/November and is carried out at Nati Imli on the day following Vijayadashmi or Dussehra. It pertains to the episode of the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile, and his reunion with his brother Bharat.

Yoga Festival - This art of meditation and alternative medication has heavily influenced the Indian subcontinent and other parts of the world. The path of yoga is considered to be a perfect way to find peace of mind and solace without demeaning the soul. The yoga Festival held at Varanasi and Allahbad in Uttar Pradesh marks the movement, which got popular in the west as a counter-revolution to the Hippie movement.

Eid-ul-Fitr - read more..

Eid-ul-Adha - read more..

Muharrum - read more..

Indian Holidays in 2009 - List

www.majorworldfestivals.blogspot.com wishes all the esteemed visitor's a very happy new year 2009 , the following post first for this year contains list of indian festivals for 2009, categorized according to monthly festivals for all the months of 2009. January 2009 festivals, february 2009 festivals, march 2009 festivals, April 2009 festivals, May 2009 festivals, June 2009 festivals, July 2009 festivals, August 2009 festivals, September 2009 festivals, October 2009 festivals, November 2009 festivals, December 2009 festivals so what i have tried is to make the list as comprehensive as possible, however your valuable suggestions for improving the blog are always welcome.

Indian Festivals in January 2009:
01 - Thursday - New Year
05 - Monday - Guru Govind Singh Jayanti
13 - Tuesday - Lohri
14 - Wednesday - Makar Sankranti
15 - Thursday - Pongal
26 - Monday - Republic Day
26 - Monday - Chinese New Year
26 - Monday - Mauni Amavasya
31 - Saturday - Vasant Panchami

Indian Festivals in February 2009 :
14 - Saturday - Valentines Day
23 - Monday - Mahashivratri

Indian Festivals in March 2009:
09 - Monday - Milad un Nabi (Birthday of the Prophet)
11 - Wednesday - Holi
11 - Wednesday - Hola Mohalla
14 - Saturday - Milad un Nabi
21 - Saturday - Nau Roz
22 - Sunday - Mothering Sunday (UK)
26 - Thursday - Khordad Sal, Birth of Prophet Zaranhushtra

Indian Festivals in April 2009:
03 - Friday - Ram Navmi
05 - Sunday - Palm Sunday
06 - Monday - Bikrami Samvat (Hindu New Year)
07 - Tuesday - Mahavir Jayanti
09 - Thursday - Hanuman Jayanti
10 - Friday - Good Friday
12 - Sunday - Easter
12 Sunday - Palm Sunday
13 - Monday - Baisakhi
19 - Sunday - Easter

Indian Festivals in May 2009 :
09 - Saturday - Buddha Jayanti / Buddha Purnima
10 - Sunday - Mother's Day

Indian Festivals in JUNE 2009:
02 - Tuesday - Ganga Dussehra
16 - Tuesday - Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev (Nanakshahi calendar)
21 - Sunday - Father's Day
24 - Wednesday - Rath Yatra

Indian Festivals in JULY 2009:
07 - Tuesday - Guru Poornima

Indian Festivals in AUGUST 2009:
02 - Sunday - Friendship Day
05 - Wednesday - Rakhi /Raksha Bandhan
14 - Friday - Sri Krishna Janmashtami
15 - Saturday - Independence Day
19 - Wednesday - Jamshedi Noruz (Zoroastrian New Year in Shenshai calendar)
22 - Saturday - Ramadan begins
23 - Sunday - Ganesh Chaturathi

Indian Festivals in SEPTEMBER 2009:
02 - Wednesday - Onam
05 - Saturday - Teachers Day
19 - Saturday - Navaratra begin
21 - Monday - Id-Ul-Fitr, Ramadan Ends
28 - Monday - Dussehra

Indian Festivals in OCTOBER 2009:
02 - Friday - Gandhi Jayanti
08 - Thursday - Karva Chauth
15 - Thursday - Dhan Teras
17 - Saturday - Diwali
18 - Sunday - Govardhan Puja
19 - Monday - Bhai Duj
31 - Saturday - Halloween

Indian Festivals in NOVEMBER 2009:
02 - Monday - Guru Nanak Jayanti
14 - Saturday - Children's Day
26 - Thursday - Thanksgiving Day
28 - Saturday - Eid-Ul-Adha

Indian Festivals in DECEMBER 2009:
12 - Saturday - Hanukkah
18 - Friday - Al-Hijira
25 - Friday - Christmas

posted under - Indian Festivals in 2009, January, february, march, april, may, june, july, august, september, october, november, December 2009