Fairs and Festivals
Himachal Pradesh is a land of colourful people who love fairs and local festivals and fairs with great enthusiasm. Most of the fairs and festival are associated with different seasonal changes. All of the fairs and festivals celebrated in Himachal are the results of cultural values, economic needs and time, which have been realised by the inhabitants from time to time and later given the shape of tradition. The bulk population of Himachal Pradesh consists of Hindus. There are many fairs and festivals held throughout the year and one can watch the colorful hill people at their joyous best.
The following fairs and festivals are celebrated in Himachal Pradesh.
1. Nalwari Fair: This fair is celebrated in Bilaspur district of Himachal Pradesh. It is a state level fair. The silent features of Nalwari fairs are
a. A cattle fair held in month of March every year at Luhnu ground.
b. W Goldstein, the Suprintendent of Shimla Hill States, conceived the idea of this fair in 1889 AD.
c. The idea was motivated by a shortage of the good breed cattle, especially bullocks, which are so important for good agriculture and are a prominent feature of the economy of the hilly terrain.
2. Naina Devi Fair: This fair is celebrated in Bilaspur district of Himachal Pradesh. This fair is held in the month of August at Naina Devi temple every year.This is the most delightful fair in Bilaspur district. It is eight kilometer from the Gangul Power House.
3. Markanda Fair: This fair is celebrated in Jhukhala of Bilaspur district. It is held in the month of April.
4. Minjar Fair: Minjar means Maize Flowers, This fair is celebrated in Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh. It is a National level fair. This fair is begin from the second Sunday in the month of August and it continues for seven days. Maize flowers, a coconut, a rupee of coin, a fruit and a few paddy tentacles are offered to "Varuna" the God of rains, in the river Ravi. A procession started from "Akhand Chandi" palace and terminates at the bank. After the Minjars are floated, people distribute sweets and scents. This fairs was started by Raja Sahil Varman.
5. Suhi Fair: This fair is celebrated in Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh. The fair is celebrated in the month of April, this fair is exclusively for women and children. This fair is celebrated to pay tribute to the Rani Naina Devi (the queen of Raja Sahil Varman) who had sacrified hereself to bring water to Chamba town.
6. Manimahesh Yatra: This fair is celebrated in Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh. Manimahesh Yatra is a pilgrimage to the sacred Manimahesh Lake in the Bharmaur Region of Chamba district. Begining from Sri Krishna Janmashtami ( in the month of August) it ends on Radhashtami. The official yatra commence with the start of "Chhari" from the Lakshaminarayan Temple in Chamba town.
7. Phul Yatra Fair: This fair is celebrated in Killar (Pangi) of Chamba district. It is a state level fair. This fair is celebrated in the month of September-October to mark the start of closing season in this snow bound valley.
8. Bhojri Festival: Bhojri festival is celebrated in Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh. This festival is held for the two days following the Minjar fair and is frequented only by women and girls.
9. Chhitrari Yatra: This yatra is celebrated in Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh. Chhitrari yatra is celebrated in the month of September every year.
10. Nagini Fair: Nagini fair is celebrated in Nurpur of Kangra district. A religious fair held in the month of Shrawana.
11. Dal Fair: Dal fair is held in Dharamshala of Kangra district. It held in the month of August every year.
12. Jawalamukhi Fair: It is held in Jawalamukhi temple of Kangra district. It held twice a year during Navratras to worship Goddess Durga.
13. Kaleshwar Fair: It is celebrated in Kangra, Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, held in the month of April on the Baishakhi Day.
14. Shivratri Fair: This fair is celebrated in Kathgarh, Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. It is district level fair, celebrated on the Shivratri day. Shiva is the chief diety of Himachal people.
15. Shivratri Fair: This fair is celebrated in Baijnath, Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. It is state level fair, celebrated on the Shivratri day. Shiva is the chief diety of Himachal people.
16. Summer Festival: Summer festival is celebrated in Dharamshala of Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh. It is a state level festival. It is celebrated in the month of May every year.
17. Lohri Festival: Lohri festival is celebrated in Pragpur of Kangra district. It is a state level festival. It is celebrated in the month of January every year. In some area it is also called Maghi or Saza. People celebrate it more as a continuation of the season of festivals. Lohri is celebrated on the Ist of Magh. Lohri festival is equally popular in Punjab and Haryana.
18. Holi Fair: Holi fair is celebrated in Palampur of Kangra district and Sujanpur of Hamirpur district. It is a State level fair. It is celebrated in month of March every year. This fair has also been accorded the status of a state fair. This is a festival of colours. People from all over Himachal come to participate in it. A week long fair provides wholesome entertainment through various games, songs, dances, folk dramas and skits performed by local artists. Business activities are also in full swing throughout the week.
19. Winter Carnival Fair: Winter fair is celebrated in Manali of Kullu district. It is National level fair. This is celebrated in the month of February.
20. Dhungri Fair: This fair is celebrated in Manali of Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh. It is held in the month of May every year may this fair is devoted to Goddess Hidimba.
21. Dushehra Festival: Dushehra festival is celebrated in Dhalpur of Kullu Himachal Pradesh. It is National level festival. Kullu Dushehra is begining with the arrival of Dhungri (Hidimba) Devi from Manali on Vijay Dasmi Continouses for 7 days. It was strated in 1651 AD by Raja Jagat Singh of Kullu. Kullu Dushehra mirrors Himachal culture in its entirety. It throws light on the life, love of dance and music of the people in this region. To see the colourful Himachal at one place, Kullu Dushehra is the right place.
The famous idol of Raghunathji which is carried from its fixed place in Dhalpur maidan.
22. Bhunda Festival: Bhunda festival is celebrated in Nirmand of Kullu district, Himachal Pradesh. Bhunda is the Kumbha festival of hill people. It is celebrated at an interval of every twelve years. This festival is concerned with the worship of Lord Parshu Ram
23. Budhi Diwali: Budhi diwali is celebrated in Nirmand of Kullu district, Himachal Pradesh. A three day long fair held on Maghar Amawas. The fair is associated with the battle of Mahabharata which is said to have started on that day.
24. Sarhi Yatra Fair: Sarhi Yatra fair is celebrated in Naggar of Kullu district, Himachal Pradesh. It is celebrated in the month of May every year.
25. Chaichu Fair: Chaichu fair is celebrated in Rewalsar of Mandi district. It is a State level fair. A religious fair beginning on 13th April every year.
26. Skodi Fair: It is celebrated in Dhog(Joginder Nagar) of Distt. Mandi. It is a district level fair. A 3 days long fair held in the month of April in the honour of a woman who had performed Sati there.
27 Nalwar Fair: Nalwar fair is held in Sunder Nagar, Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh. It is a district level fair. It is celebrated in the month of April every year.
28. Mahunag Fair: The fair is celebrated in Karsog, Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh. It is celebrated in the month of May.
29. Tseeshu Fair: Tseeshu fair is held in Rewalsar, Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh. A Budhist religious fair held on the 10th of the first month of Tibetan New Year which generally falls in Feb-March. This is in commemoration of the Birthday of their Spritual Leader Padamsambhava in the 8th centuary AD.
30. Gasota Fair: It is celebrated in Hamirpur district of Himachal Pradesh. It is a cattle fair celebrated in month of May.
31. Baba Balak Nath Fair: The fair is held in Deotsidh of Hamirpur district. It is a state level fair. This fair is celebrated in month of March-April at the holy shrine of Baba Balak Nathji at Deotsidh.
32. Hamir Fesitval: Hamir festival is held in Hamirpur district of Himachal Pradesh. It is a State level festival. It is celebrated in month of September-October every year.
33. Fulaich Festival: Fulaich festival is held in Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh. It is district level festival. This festival is known as festival of flowers. The festival starts with the animal sacrifices and soon whole village gathers on a hilltop and look for the beautiful Ladra flowers. It is celebrated to owner the dead relatives and to pray for their peace of soul.
34. Lossar Festival: This festival is celebrated in Lahaul & Spiti and Kinnaur. A tibetan new year festival celebrated in the last week of February.
35. Ladarcha Fair: This fair is held in Kaza of Lahaul & Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh. A religious and cultural fair held in the month of July indicates the termination of summer season.
36. Pori Fair: Pori fair is celebrated in Triloknath of Lahaul & Spiti district. It is a district level fair. This fair is celebrated to worship Lord Trilokinath.
37. Jijed Festival: This festival is celebrated in Lahaul & Spiti (Thanggyud Monastery) of Himachal Pradesh. Main attraction of the festival is Masked Dance performed with the objective to protect people from diseases and epidemics held in the month of October.
38. Guitor Festival: This festival is celebrated in Kee, Tabo, Dhankar Monasteries of Lahaul & Spiti district. This festival is celebrated in the month of October is known for masked Dance.
39. Gochi Festival: This festival is celebrated in Keylong of Lahaul & Spiti district. It is celebrated in the month of February jointly by all the families, where the male child were born in the proceeding year.
40. Halda Festival: This festival is celebrated in Chandra & Bhaga valleys of Lahaul & Spiti district. This festival is celebrated in the month of December-January every year is like a Diwali festival to the people of Lahaul & Spiti. The festivities centre around Shiskar Apa who is the goddess of wealth in lamastic Pantheon as to the people of this region. Lit Cedar twigs are carried by the people from every household to form the flames of a bonfire at a place selected by the Lamas.
41. Lavi Fair: Lavi fair is celebrated in Rampur of Shimla district. It is a National level fair. The most ancient trade fair of the state is held in the month of November. The word Lavi is derived from the word 'Leo' which in local pariance means a sheet of woollen cloth. Another meaning of Lavi is shearing of the Sheep. Lavi fair is almost three hundred years old.
42. Pathar-Ka-Khel Festival: This festival is celebrated in Halog, Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh. It is celebrated on the second day of Diwali in the month of Kartik (October-November)
43. Rohru Fair: This fair is held in Rohru of Shimla district. It is a State level fair. The fair is celebrated in the month of April.
44. Fag Fair: It is celebrated in Rampur, Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh. It is a district level fair.
45. Sippi Fair: This fair is held in Mashobra of Shimla district. It is a district level fair. It is celebrated in the month of May.
46. Purag Fair: Purag fair is celebrated in Kotkhai of Shimla district. It is a district level fair. It held in the month of April in the honour of Mahadev Devta, who is carried in Kamahli, a silver pot, to river Giri to bathe ceremoniously and is then brought back.
47. Buffalo Fair: This fair is held in Kufri (Mashobra), Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh. It is celebrated in the month of September.
48. Summer Festival: This festival is held in Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh. It is a National level festival.
49. Renuka Fair: Renuka fair is held in Renukaji of Sirmour district. It is a State level fair. This fair begins 10 days after Diwali-the festival of lights, in the month of November and continoues for six days. The fair of Renukaji is celebrated annually to comemmorate the meeting of Lord Parshuram and his mother Renuka.
50. Bawan Dwadsi: This is celebrated in Sarahan of Sirmour district. This is celebrated in the month of September.
51. Trilokpur Fair: This fair is celebrated in Trilokpur temple of Sirmour district. This fair is devoted to Goddess Bala Sundari. It is celebrated in the Sharad Navratras.
52. Shoolini Fair: This fair is held in Solan district of Himachal Pradesh. It is a State level fair. This fair held in the month of June every year, continues for three days. The fair begins with a proccession carrying the palanquin of the presiding diety Shoolini Mata to Durga temple in the heart of the Solan Town.
53. Sari Fair: This fair is celebrated in Arki of Solan district. This fair is celebrated in the month of July, this fair is known for the bull fighting.
54. Chintpurni Fair: This fair is held in Chintpurni temple, Una district of Himachal Pradesh.
55. Baba Barrbhag Singh Fair: This fair is held in Maiddi of Una district. This fair is celebrated in the month of June.
56. Baishakhi Festival: Baisakhi or Vaisakhi festival is celebrated in the Sikh New Year and the founding of the Khalsa Panth on April 13th, 1699 A.D. History of Baishakhi traces its origin from the Baishakhi day celebrations of 1699 organised by the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh to form Khalsa-Brotherhood of Saint Soldiers to fight against tyranny and oppression. It is known as Bisowa in Kangra, Bissue in Shimla hills and Lisshoo in Pangi region of district Chamba.
57. Gugga Fair: Gugga fair is another form of Snake cult. The diety is considered effective particularly in cases of snake bit. Gugga worshipping is much prevalent in the district Kangra, Hamirpur, Una, Bilaspur and Mandi. In a Gugga temple the idols of Gorakhnathm Machhedra-rath, Narsinghm Bhairon, Hanuman, Sirkhand, Kailu, Fatta, Gugri and Ghoga are also housed. The heroic exploits of Gugga are sung by devotees of different caste from the day of Raksha Bandan to that of Gugga Naumi. The Gugga fair of Gehrwin village of district Bilaspur is very famous.
Fair and Festival in a land provide social attachment and cultural association to the people of various shades and colours. To the people of Himachal, there is only one ray of hope in their hard life- the prospects of fun whole heartedly, as and when a fair is held or festival is observed. The cultural life of Himachal Pradesh provides a composite cultural traits and social harmony to the greater society of India.
30. Gasota Fair: It is celebrated in Hamirpur district of Himachal Pradesh. It is a cattle fair celebrated in month of May.
31. Baba Balak Nath Fair: The fair is held in Deotsidh of Hamirpur district. It is a state level fair. This fair is celebrated in month of March-April at the holy shrine of Baba Balak Nathji at Deotsidh.
32. Hamir Fesitval: Hamir festival is held in Hamirpur district of Himachal Pradesh. It is a State level festival. It is celebrated in month of September-October every year.
33. Fulaich Festival: Fulaich festival is held in Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh. It is district level festival. This festival is known as festival of flowers. The festival starts with the animal sacrifices and soon whole village gathers on a hilltop and look for the beautiful Ladra flowers. It is celebrated to owner the dead relatives and to pray for their peace of soul.
34. Lossar Festival: This festival is celebrated in Lahaul & Spiti and Kinnaur. A tibetan new year festival celebrated in the last week of February.
35. Ladarcha Fair: This fair is held in Kaza of Lahaul & Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh. A religious and cultural fair held in the month of July indicates the termination of summer season.
36. Pori Fair: Pori fair is celebrated in Triloknath of Lahaul & Spiti district. It is a district level fair. This fair is celebrated to worship Lord Trilokinath.
37. Jijed Festival: This festival is celebrated in Lahaul & Spiti (Thanggyud Monastery) of Himachal Pradesh. Main attraction of the festival is Masked Dance performed with the objective to protect people from diseases and epidemics held in the month of October.
38. Guitor Festival: This festival is celebrated in Kee, Tabo, Dhankar Monasteries of Lahaul & Spiti district. This festival is celebrated in the month of October is known for masked Dance.
39. Gochi Festival: This festival is celebrated in Keylong of Lahaul & Spiti district. It is celebrated in the month of February jointly by all the families, where the male child were born in the proceeding year.
40. Halda Festival: This festival is celebrated in Chandra & Bhaga valleys of Lahaul & Spiti district. This festival is celebrated in the month of December-January every year is like a Diwali festival to the people of Lahaul & Spiti. The festivities centre around Shiskar Apa who is the goddess of wealth in lamastic Pantheon as to the people of this region. Lit Cedar twigs are carried by the people from every household to form the flames of a bonfire at a place selected by the Lamas.
41. Lavi Fair: Lavi fair is celebrated in Rampur of Shimla district. It is a National level fair. The most ancient trade fair of the state is held in the month of November. The word Lavi is derived from the word 'Leo' which in local pariance means a sheet of woollen cloth. Another meaning of Lavi is shearing of the Sheep. Lavi fair is almost three hundred years old.
42. Pathar-Ka-Khel Festival: This festival is celebrated in Halog, Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh. It is celebrated on the second day of Diwali in the month of Kartik (October-November)
43. Rohru Fair: This fair is held in Rohru of Shimla district. It is a State level fair. The fair is celebrated in the month of April.
44. Fag Fair: It is celebrated in Rampur, Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh. It is a district level fair.
45. Sippi Fair: This fair is held in Mashobra of Shimla district. It is a district level fair. It is celebrated in the month of May.
46. Purag Fair: Purag fair is celebrated in Kotkhai of Shimla district. It is a district level fair. It held in the month of April in the honour of Mahadev Devta, who is carried in Kamahli, a silver pot, to river Giri to bathe ceremoniously and is then brought back.
47. Buffalo Fair: This fair is held in Kufri (Mashobra), Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh. It is celebrated in the month of September.
48. Summer Festival: This festival is held in Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh. It is a National level festival.
49. Renuka Fair: Renuka fair is held in Renukaji of Sirmour district. It is a State level fair. This fair begins 10 days after Diwali-the festival of lights, in the month of November and continoues for six days. The fair of Renukaji is celebrated annually to comemmorate the meeting of Lord Parshuram and his mother Renuka.
50. Bawan Dwadsi: This is celebrated in Sarahan of Sirmour district. This is celebrated in the month of September.
51. Trilokpur Fair: This fair is celebrated in Trilokpur temple of Sirmour district. This fair is devoted to Goddess Bala Sundari. It is celebrated in the Sharad Navratras.
52. Shoolini Fair: This fair is held in Solan district of Himachal Pradesh. It is a State level fair. This fair held in the month of June every year, continues for three days. The fair begins with a proccession carrying the palanquin of the presiding diety Shoolini Mata to Durga temple in the heart of the Solan Town.
53. Sari Fair: This fair is celebrated in Arki of Solan district. This fair is celebrated in the month of July, this fair is known for the bull fighting.
54. Chintpurni Fair: This fair is held in Chintpurni temple, Una district of Himachal Pradesh.
55. Baba Barrbhag Singh Fair: This fair is held in Maiddi of Una district. This fair is celebrated in the month of June.
56. Baishakhi Festival: Baisakhi or Vaisakhi festival is celebrated in the Sikh New Year and the founding of the Khalsa Panth on April 13th, 1699 A.D. History of Baishakhi traces its origin from the Baishakhi day celebrations of 1699 organised by the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh to form Khalsa-Brotherhood of Saint Soldiers to fight against tyranny and oppression. It is known as Bisowa in Kangra, Bissue in Shimla hills and Lisshoo in Pangi region of district Chamba.
57. Gugga Fair: Gugga fair is another form of Snake cult. The diety is considered effective particularly in cases of snake bit. Gugga worshipping is much prevalent in the district Kangra, Hamirpur, Una, Bilaspur and Mandi. In a Gugga temple the idols of Gorakhnathm Machhedra-rath, Narsinghm Bhairon, Hanuman, Sirkhand, Kailu, Fatta, Gugri and Ghoga are also housed. The heroic exploits of Gugga are sung by devotees of different caste from the day of Raksha Bandan to that of Gugga Naumi. The Gugga fair of Gehrwin village of district Bilaspur is very famous.
Fair and Festival in a land provide social attachment and cultural association to the people of various shades and colours. To the people of Himachal, there is only one ray of hope in their hard life- the prospects of fun whole heartedly, as and when a fair is held or festival is observed. The cultural life of Himachal Pradesh provides a composite cultural traits and social harmony to the greater society of India.
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