Himachal Pradesh Temple Festivals are pompous celebrations that relates to the glorious past and tradition of the state. The people in Himachal love festivals and participate in all the local festivals and fairs with great enthusiasm. Most of the fairs and festivals are associated with the various seasonal changes.
Several folklores are closely related to the beginning of each Himachal Pradesh temple festivals. These fairs provide a clear glimpse into the lives, the beliefs and the popular traditions of the rural life in Himachal Pradesh. Each district of this state has its own sequence of annual fairs and festivals, which are connected with the historical and sociological background of that area. Festivals have an important place in the lives of the people in Himachal. On the day of Himachal Pradesh temple festivals, the farmers do not work in the fields and rich and poor alike celebrate these festivals to the best of their financial abilities. If there any person in the family dies on the day of the festival, the other members do not celebrate the festival, till a birth occurs around the same time. The Sikh festivals are equally celebrated with great pomp and gaiety in the cities. The tribal festivals of Himachal Pradesh have their own identity, which are completely different from the festival celebration in rest of the nation.
The Pori festival of the Lahaul valley is remarkable. This Himachal Pradesh temple festival is celebrated in the traditional way at the temple of Trilokinath. On this day the statue of the lord is immersed with milk and yogurt and then at about ten o` clock in the morning a crowd of people moves around the temple beating drums and blowing conch shells and bugles. A horse runs around the temple and it is believed that the god sits on its back and this is why the horse is drenched in sweet after the ritual. After the procession, the crowd along with the horse goes to the palace of the local ruler where the horse is given a grand welcome. The king then rides the horse and visits the fair ground, which is dotted all over with small shops. On this day butter lamp burns within the temple all day and all nightlong. The disciples keep on adding butter to it as they come and accept the ritual Prasad of multi-coloured scraps of cloth with deep adoration.
Dussera is an important Himachal Pradesh temple festival that is celebrated all over the state with great merrymaking. The Ramlila plays begin a month prior to this and finish on the day of the festival. In the evening an actor dressed as Lord Rama shoots arrows at statues of Ravana, his son Meghnad and his brother Kumbh Karna and finally sets them on fire. After this, crackers are lit and sweets are distributed. However, offerings are done in the temple for Lord Rama.
Kulu Dussera is the biggest temple festival in Himachal Prdaesh. This festival is held in October in Dhalpur maidan of Kulu. The beginning is distinct by Rathyatra, in which the chief deity `Raghunathji` is carried in a fully decorated wooden chariot. The yatra implies the march of Rama to conquer Ravana. The famous Nainadevi fair is held in August. Some of the devotees cover the entire distance to the temple by lying prostrate each time they take a step. This is one of the Himachal Pradesh temple festivals that is attended by thousands of devotees from all over the world. Fulaich festival in Himachal Pradesh is celebrated in the monsoon months. This festival commemorates the dead, the associated fair opens with animal sacrifices and soon the entire village collects on a hilltop and looks for the `Ladra` flower. The gathered people serve rice wine and food to the dear departed ones on a mound of bricks. These are finally distributed to the poor and the Harijans in the village. Then the people of the village reassemble at the house of the `Dhangaspa` family and festoon all the family members of the clan. The villagers also welcome the team that had gone up the hills to look for flowers. Sacrifices are made into wood nymphs and at many temples. Dancers perform ritual dances with ancient weapons.
The festival of Holi is celebrated in the full moon day in the month of Falgun. Some women in the village offer special Puja during Holi. Small twigs of the `Kamal` tree are smeared in red and yellow and then laid out in little bamboo baskets called the khartoo along with thread, kumkum, jaggery and roasted grams. The women carry this basket and little pots of coloured water in their hands and go for the Puja. Offerings are done at the temples. The baskets are first offered to an elderly man (Dandochh) and then the Holi is played. The next day the entire village plays Holi. The day before Holi, when the moon comes out, the Holi bonfire is built and set to fire. There is a jumble during this Himachal Pradesh temple festival among the younger men to touch the Holi flag first. He who touches it first, is said to be lucky. Special Kadah Prasad (sweet gruel) is also cooked and distributed.
The Holi melas have a religious significance and are held at Palampur, Ghughar, Paprola, Baijnath, Jaisinghpur and Sujanpur. These fairs also have an attraction of their own. The Holi festival of Sujanpur traces its colourful history back to the magnificent days of King Sansar Chand. This fair has been declared as a state festival by the Himachal government. The fair lasts for five days during which various processions of deities are taken out. Folk dances and conventional folk theater forms are also accessible. Clay pots are also sold and the entire valley seems to resound with the joyous resonance of the traditional Holi songs in Himachal Pradesh. The Himachal Pradesh temple festivals have a charm of its own, reflecting the culture and heritage of the state.
