Important festivals celebrated in Kumaon

Important festivals celebrated in Kumaon

•   Uttrayani ( Makar sakranti)
•  Lakshmi pooja 
•  Basant Panchmi
•  Bhitauli
•  Harela
•  Janyunpunyu or Rakshabandhan
•  Batsavitri
•  Ganga Dusshera
•  Dikar Puja
•  Olgi or Ghee Sankarti
•  Khatarua
•  Ghuian Ekadashi
•  Samvatsar padyaoo 
•  Govardhan
•  Phooldei

•   Uttrayani ( Makar sakranti)

Uttarāyaṇa (उत्तरायण), or Uttarayana, is the six-month period between Winter solstice (around December 22) andSummer solstice (around June 21), when the sun apparently travels towards the north on the celestial sphere. But it is common to erroneously refer it to as the period between the Makar Sankranti (which currently occurs around January 14) and Karka Sankranti (which currently occurs around July 18). The name Uttarayana comes from joining two different Sanskrit words "Uttara" (North) and "ayana" (movement towards). The period from June 21 to December 22 is known is Dakshināyana (दक्षिणायण) 

• Phooldei

Phool Dei is celebrated on the first day of the month of Chaitra in mid March. On this day, young girls conduct most of the ceremonies. In some places this festival is celebrated throughout the month with the advent of spring. During this festival young girls go to all the houses in the muhalla or the village with plates full of rice, jaggery, coconut, green leaves and flowers. They offer their good wishes for the prosperity of the household and are given blessings and presents (sweets, gur, money etc) in return. 

phool dei, chamma dei
deno dwar, bhur bhakar
yo dei sei namashkar, puje dwar

• Olgi or Ghee Sankarti

Olgia is celebrated on the first day of Bhado (middle of August), when the harvest is lush and green, vegetables are in abundance and the milch animals very productive. In ancient times sons-in-law and nephews would give presents to fathers-in-law and maternal uncles, respectively, in order to celebrate Olgia. Today agriculturists and artisans give presents to the owners of their land and purchasers of their tools and receive gifts and money in return. Binai (oral harp), datkhocha(metallic tooth pick), metal calipers, axes, ghee, vegetables and firewood are some of the presents exchanged on this day. People put ghee on their foreheads and eat ghee and chapatis stuffed with 'urad' dal. It is believed that walnuts sweeten after this festival. This festival, which is a celebration of the produce of the land, is now seldom celebrated.

• Batsavitri

This festival is celebrated on the Krishna amavasya (last day of the dark half of the month) of Jyestha and on the day married women worship Savitri and the Bat or banyan tree (Ficus benghalensis) and pray for the well being of their spouses. Women observe fast in honour of Savitri and Satyavan and remember how Savitri through her intense devotion saved her husband from the claws of death.

• Basant Panchmi

The festival of Basant Panchami celebrates the coming of the spring season. This festival, which also signals the end of winter, is generally celebrated during Magh (January - February). During this festival people worship the Goddess Saraswati, use yellow handkerchiefs or even yellow cloths and in a few places people put a yellow tilak on their foreheads. This festival also marks the beginning of holi baithaks.

• Lakshmi Puja

In Kumaon, the pooja of the goddess of wealth is carried out in a strange and unique way with three sugarcane sticks placed like in a large plate to form a sort-of tripod and a fruit like a Malta or an orange placed right in the middle of it. The Malta (or orange) is ‘dressed’ in a red chunni with golden lining. Assuming this very fruit to be Goddess Lakshmi, the fruit is worshipped along with silver coins. This tradition is a true example of the Kumaoni’s faith in God almighty.

• Bhitauli

On the first of the navaratris (nine day fasting period) in the month of Chaitra, women sow seven types of grains. The germination of these grains symbolizes the future harvest. On the tenth day, the yellow leaves, called Harela, are cut people put them on their heads and tuck them behind their ears. During this very month of Chaitra (March-April) brothers send gifts for their sisters. These presents are called ‘Bhitauli’, thus the name! 

• Harela

Celebrated in the month of Shravan (July- august), the month of festivals, to commemorate the wedding of Lord Shiva and Parvati, the festival is also associated with the arrival of the rainy season and the new harvest. On this day people make clay statues (Dikaras) of Shiva, Parvati, Ganesh etc. and worship them. The overworked bullocks find a rare a rest on the occasion of Harela. 

• Ganga Dusshera 

It is a very popular festival of the hills and is celebrated to commemorate the arrival of the River Ganges on earth which, traditionally, is called Gangavataran. It is held over the first 10 days of the month of Jyeshtha (in June). A dip in the Ganga on this day, according to mythological and popular beliefs, cleanses all the sins of the mortals. A mela is also held on the occasion at Purnagiri. 

• Khatarua

Khatarua signifies the arrival of the autumn season, a very important time of the year for the pastoral - agricultural society and is celebrated on the first day of the month of Ashwin in mid September. Bonfires, around which children dance, and offerings of cucumber to the fire of Khatarua mark the celebrations. Cucumbers’ offerings, as is the popular belief, destroy all evil influences.