All the fun of the fair, mixed with the music of the Sitar, Sarangi and Drum is the order of the day practically every other month of the year in this happy high attitude state when the air resounds with the bells of the exuberant dancers and the strains of immortal and haunting Pahari melodies. Himachal Pradesh Holiday Packages organized by Swan Tours cover all the important tourist destinations in Himachal Pradesh. The Kullu and Kargra valleys hold some of the most picturesque fairs and religious festivals in India, when all worries and cares are thrown to the winds and God is praised in melody and music for all His meritorious gift rendered to His people. The magical power of the Himalayas is an indefinite blend of myth and reality; the silvered heights etched against the sky, towering over dark gorges stately pine forests and manicured tea gardens in an atmosphere redolent with the history of battles both between the gods and the mere mortals who fought to defend the 'Valley of the Gods', and charm and reality to the festivals, making even the unbeliever pause and reconsider his ideas. Early in the year, five to six thousand people flock to the Shivratri fair to pay homage to Shiva in the month of February - March. Near the lovely town of Pelmet', in the Kangra Valley Is Nougat Khad, a 300 metros wide chasm through which the Bandla stream goes roaring through in the form of a gushing torrent in monsoon. A short drive from hero is Baljnath where the main Kangra Valley seems to end and where is situated the Vaidyanath temple, the remarkable features of which are the Proportions. The inter-relationship of sculpture and architecture in this shrine is of great artistic value. Here and at Sarbari and Kung Darwar is held the great Shivaratri Fair. Shortly after Shivaratri in March April Is the festival of Holi celebrated with great gusto all over India, but in Himachal the air of the verdant wood lend eclat to the event filled with joyous songs and dances, all over the valley, but especially at SujanpurTira and Hamirpur, where from 5 to 10 thousand gather with gay abandon setting even the air aflame with a riot of colour, song and dance. Holi is over but the spirits are still boisterous and something has got to give--so in all their wisdom of the hills; the people of the Kangra valley arrange wrestling matches at Salina and the tea gardens of Palampur. Here, between March-April muscle is matched with music and melody. On the same day, at Khannihara and Kanrgra besides the wrestling is a beauty parade--of all the prize cattle of the country. Both the cattle show and the wrestling matches at all four places, attract from 5 to 10 thousand people. # Festival Fair Nawratri The most important visit during best of Himachal tour is to the golden domed temple of the goddess of Jwalamukhi, perched on a rocky cliff, 30 km (18.6 miles) from Kangra, is the venue of a 9 day festival fete and fair in April when 5,000 gather both at Kangra and at the temple to honobr the Goddess of the Enternal Flame. The fairs in Kullu and Kangra valleys are the most lively, thousands come down from the mountain top villages in colourful costumes. Also at the same time as the Jwalamukhi Fair is the Minjar Meta held on the banks as the Ravi 'the vale of milk and honey' --Chamba - on approximately the same dates. The 'merrie month of May' is the time to rejoice in the gorgeous spring weather when the heart is young. Now is the time when the farmer's heart swells with pride as he looks at his stock of fine cattle-show--off to market for the cattle show held at the Bhikashah Fair in the towns of Bhawarna and Palampur, in May, and attracting people in thousands. # Nagini Fair of Naga Panchimi When some careless person inadvertently or otherwise kills the mate of a snake, the female can assume any form and go out in search of the killer. She is indestructible and does not rest till her aim is achieve. At the towns of Nagini and Nurpur, in August are held fairs to propitiate the Goddess Nagini--the Snake Mother. This fair, full of haunting music, attracts about five thousand at both places. #The Dal Festival About 11 km (7 miles) from Dharamsala is the picturous Dal Lake not as large as its namesake, but certainly with as much charm of its own: nearby is the popular shrine of Bhagsunath, not far off from a small lovely waterfall. Here, in september, around 5,000 devotees take ritual baths both in the Dal Lake and the Bhagsunath Springs. After ablution, comes salvation leading to elation which manifests itself in song and dance. #Festival of Bawan - Dwadash The monsoon has ended, every leaf, every blade of grass is shining and glowing in the crisp salubrious air of September. Obviously it is time to celebrate with a fair. The venue is nahan, overlooking dense forests and deep ravines and perched on an isolated ridge of the Siwalik Hills at a height of 900 meters (2,959 ft). The festival is Bawan - Dwadashi, when 52 idols are taken in a procession to lake and immersed. #The Fabulous Dussehra Festival The months of October bring great joy to the heart of every Hindu--this is the time to celebrate the victory of good over evil. I n Himachal, with its 2,000 temples and numerous village deities, it has a deeper meaning. The gods have been kind, the year has been good. For nine days in October the air is replete with mirth, music and song. Thousands flock to Kullu, Jwalamukhi and Chamba where there are special festivals, fairs and fetes to worship Lord Raghunath and mark the destruction of Ravan--the demon king. The Lord Raghunath reigns supreme and all the other gods pay him homage as he comes in his gorgeously decorated pIanquin. On one side of the fair, at Kullu, the planquin of a local god sways from side to side and the men trying to still its movements seem helpless. The god is angry, or wishes to unburden himself of some important bit of news - the people crowd around oscillating sacred craft to hear. Suddenly a priest places his hand on the poles to still it and goes into a trance and begins to mumble words at first inarticulate, then clear and vibrant- he has become the mouthpiece of the god.
"It will not rain early this year because the people have become wicked". “The fruit crop will be good." A voice asks" "When shall I be able to complete my house?"..As soon as you return the pound of nails, your father stole from the temple", Is the prompt reply. Booths are set up at this, the largest of all fairs in Himachal, and joy reigns unconfined. In November a fair is held on the banks of the lovely Renuka Lake, short distance from Nahan. This enchanting spot is named after Renuka, who was slain by her son Parashuram in obedience to his father, the sage Jamadagni, but again restored to life. The fair celebrates her immortality. In the same month, thousands flock to the Trade Fair of Lavi in Rampur in November. On a smaller scale, but just as colourful, are the Seri Melas held at Kunihar and Mashobra in the Mahasu district, with their exciting. For more information on tourism in Himachal Pradesh contact Swan Tours, one of the leading tour operators in Connaught place.
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AuthorSwan Tours one of the leading travel agnets in India Archives
January 2018
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