The Uttarakhand temple festivals hold the religious integrity of the state. Khatarua is essentially the special Uttarakhand temple festival that marks the pastoral - agricultural success and is celebrated on the first day of the month of Ashwin in mid September, and signifies the beginning of the autumn.
On the day of Khatarua, the people of Uttarakhand gather together and light bonfires, around which children dance, holding aloft colourful flags. People take special care of their cattle and feed them fresh grass. Cucumbers are offered to the fire of Khatarua, which is said to destroy all evil influences on the society. The victory of the king of Kumaon is also said to be one of the reasons for the celebration of Khatarua. Bat Savitri is one of the Uttarakhand temple festivals, celebrated on the Krishna amavasya of Jyestha and on that day married women worship Savitri and the Bat or banyan tree and pray for the well being of their spouses. The married women observe fast in honour of Savitri and Satyavan and worship in the temples, commemorating the intense dedication of Savitri through her intense devotion saved her husband from the claws of death.
Ganga Dusshera Or Dasar is celebrated on the Shukla dasami of the Jyestha (May to June). The sacred Ganga is worshipped on this day and Dusshera posters, which have various geometric designs on them, are hung on the doors of houses and temples. These posters are once hand written by Brahmins and are now printed. On this day people bathe in the holy rivers. The people of Kumaon celebrate Raksha Bandhan by the name Janopunyu. On this Uttarakhand temple festival day, people change their janeu (sacred thread) and the famous Bagwal fair is also held at Devidhura in district Pithoragarh.
Jauljibi And Thal Fairs are held every year in November at Jauljibi and has a religious significance. A similar fair is held at Thai on Vaishakh Sankranti and it attracts a large number of Shaukas. With the closure of the Indo - Tibet trade and these fairs have lost their previous importance. Uttarayani Fair is held in a number of places including Bageshwar, Suit Mahadev, Rameshwar, Chitrashila (Ranibagh) and Hanseshwar on the Uttarayani day. At the place Pancheshwar, the dola of Chaumu comes down to the temple and the fair at Bageshwar attracts maximum people.
The Nandadevi Fair is held at Almora, Nainital, Kot (Dangoli), Ranikhet, Bhowali, Kichha and also in the remote villages of lohar (like Milam and Martoli) and Pindar valleys (like Wachham and Khati). In the villages of the Pindar valley people celebrate the Nanda Devi Jaat (journey) every year, while in lohar people come from far and wide to Danadhar, Suring, Milam and Martoli in order to worship the Goddess. In Nainital and Almora thousands take part in the procession of these Uttarakhand temple festivals, carrying the dola (or litter) of Nanda Devi. It is said that the Nanda Devi fairs started in Kumaon during the reign of Kalyan Chand in the 16th Century.
Syalde Bikhauti is celebrated on the Vishuwat Sankranti day and commemorates an ancient victory. On this day, the Bagwal is held at Syalde Pokhar in the old town of Dwarahat. People also mark the occasion with music, songs and dancing. The Somnath (Masi) Fair is a religious fair and also one of the Uttarakhand temple festivals, held on Vishuwat Sankranti day. The festival is held in the Shiva temple at Masi.
The Devidhura festival is held in the compound of the Varahi Devi temple at Devidhura on the day of Raksha Bandhan. Devidhura temple is situated at a trijunction of Almora, Pithoragarh and Nainital districts and the fair is best known for its captivating folk songs and dances as also for its Bagwal or feast. The Jageshwar festival is held on the fifteenth day of the month of Baishakh at the Shiva temple in Jageshwar. During this time, the people take holy dips in the Brahma Kund and worship Lord Shiva. On this day, fairs are also held in many other places.
During the Punyagiri festival, people gather at the Punyagiri temple, situated on the top of a mountain on the right bank of the river Kali, in the district of Pithoragarh. The temple remains heavily crowded during the Navaratris of Paush and Chaitra. Every year a fair is held on Vishuwat Sankranti and this attracts a large number of pilgrims. The Haatkalika fair is another important event amongst Uttarakhand temple festivals, held on the ashtami of the Chaitra and Bhado months in the Kalika temple at Gangolihat. People beat drums heavily and install flags to pay homage to Goddess Kalika. On this day, animals are sacrificed and offered to the Goddess and the athwar (eight sacrifices) processions with drums and dances are spectacular.
The Uttarakhand temple festivals are worth seeing for its versatility and merrymaking amidst religious customs. There are many more religious fairs held in the state, namely Chaiti fair at Kashipur, Shivratri fair at Bhikiasen, Janmastami fair at Kalapani and Gunji, Hokaradevi fair at Birthi, Lachher fair near Nainipatal and many others. The Uttarakhand temple festivals play a major role in the social and cultural lives of the people of Uttarakhand. In these fairs one can feel the simultaneous presence of the forces of continuity and change in Uttarakhand culture.
