Fairs and Festivals of Bageshwar

Fairs and Festivals of Bageshwar

Fairs and Festivals of Bageshwar : Bageshwar district in Uttarakhand is known for its rich cultural heritage and traditions. The district bustles with fairs and festivals throughout the year which provide a glimpse into the vibrant culture of the locals. These fairs and festivals have great religious, social and economic significance for the people.

The major fairs and festivals celebrated in Bageshwar district are:

Religious Festivals

• Vishuvati or Bikhauti
• Vat Savitri Amavasya
• Harela

Local Deities Festivals

• Gwal Devta

Temple Festivals

• Vaikunth Chaturdashi Mela of Srinagar

In addition to these main festivals, Bageshwar also celebrates festivals like Janmashtami, Mahashivratri etc. along with local village fairs and events.

The fairs and festivals of Bageshwar showcase the rich cultural diversity of Uttarakhand. Let us explore some of the major fairs and festivals of the district in detail:

Vishuvati or Bikhauti

Vishuvati or Bikhauti is a festival celebrated in Bageshwar district on the day of the summer solstice. It is an agricultural festival marking the beginning of the sowing season.

The festival has been celebrated since ancient times by the locals of the region. As per traditions, people offer prayers to the local deities and feast on sweets made of jaggery, puffed rice and fruits.

The highlights of the Bikhauti festival are:

• People gather and sing traditional Pahari folk songs and dance to the beats of musical instruments like Hurka.
• Special round savory cakes made of pulses called ‘baras’ are prepared and eaten on this day.
• Earlier people would brand marks on their body with red hot iron rods as per the number of baras consumed. This practice is known as ‘tala dalna’ but has reduced over the years.
• Major fairs are held in Dwarahat, Syalde, Chaugar and Lohakhai on the day of Bikhauti.

The agricultural significance attached to Vishuvati makes it an important festival for the agrarian population of Bageshwar district.

Vat Savitri Amavasya

Vat Savitri Amavasya is a major fasting festival celebrated by married women of Uttarakhand. It is celebrated on the Amavasya (no moon day) during the month of Jyeshtha (May- June) as per the Hindu calendar.

On Vat Savitri, married women keep a day long fast for the long life and well-being of their husband. They also listen to the mythological legend of Savitri and Satyavan.

Key Highlights of Vat Savitri Celebrations in Bageshwar:

• Married women wake up early, take a bath, wear new clothes and observe a strict fast without even drinking water.
• They visit temples and offer prayers to Vat Savitri and tie a sacred thread around a banyan tree.
• In the evening, they listen to the legend of Savitri who brought back her husband from the claws of Yamraj, the god of death through her devotion.
• Women seek blessings of Savitri for a happy married life. Their fast ends only after sighting stars and the moon.
• Family members present gifts to the fasting women.

Vat Savitri Vrat symbolizes the eternal bond of marriage and women’s devotion to their husbands. The festival is hugely popular among women in the entire Kumaon region including Bageshwar district.

Harela

Harela is another important festival celebrated in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand. Locally known as Hariyala, it is celebrated on the first day of Shravan month of the Hindu calendar (July-August) marking the arrival of monsoons.

Key Highlights of Harela Celebrations:

• People celebrate the onset of monsoons by dancing and singing traditional songs.
• The festivities begin by sowing barley seeds in earthen pots which sprout after a week. These seedlings, called Jamara are worn as garlands and carried to the village temple on Harela.
• People also decorate a triangular pyramid of wood and place earth pots upside down over it to symbolize the advent of rains.
• Prayers are offered at temples for a bountiful monsoon, harvest and prosperity. Fairs are also held at local temples and shrines.
• Traditional dishes like Singhade ke atte ka halwa, bada and mandua rotis are prepared from freshly harvested crops.

Harela signifies the strong relationship between man and nature. The agricultural community of Bageshwar looks forward to the festival which sustains their livelihood.

Gwal Devta Fair

Gwal Devta is the folk deity of justice widely worshipped in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand. He is believed to provide justice to victims of cruelty and injustice if appeased.

An annual fair is organized at the Gwarail Chaur temple complex near Bageshwar in honor of Gwal Devta.

Key Highlights of Gwal Devta Fair:

• The fair is held around April and continues for a week seeing massive participation by locals.
• Devotees gather at the temple complex and pay obeisance at the temple of Gwal Devta which houses his decorated idol.
• Goats and roosters are sacrificed by devotees at the altar as ritual offerings. The temple priests perform the sacrifices.
• In addition, devotees bring cases of injustice to the temple priest who provides solutions to resolve them. His word is considered the final judgment.
• Besides religious activities, the fair also hosts entertainment programs, shops and makeshift eateries.

The immense faith of locals in the folk deity brings them to attend the unique fair year after year. It is an important event in the social and cultural life of Bageshwar district.

Vaikunth Chaturdashi Mela of Srinagar

The Vaikunth Chaturdashi Mela is held at Kamleshwar Mahadev temple complex in Srinagar town of Bageshwar district. It is a special fair observed on the Chaturdashi tithi (14th day) of Shukla Paksha in the month of Kartik (October – November).

The key highlights of this religious fair are:

• Childless couples keep a day long fast and stay awake the whole night on Chaturdashi at the Kamleshwar Mahadev temple praying for children.
• They light earthen lamps and offer them to the Shiva Lingam seeking blessings. It is believed Lord Shiva grants their wishes.
• Earlier the festivities would be held only on a single night. Now the district administration organizes it over 5 days and includes cultural programs.
• The unique tradition of worshipping at the temple for progeny attracts childless couples from various parts of Kumaon to take part in the mela.

Besides these main festivals, all major Hindu festivals like Diwali, Holi, Janmashtami, Mahashivratri etc. are celebrated with enthusiasm in Bageshwar district along with local village fairs. The district culture truly represents the warm, vibrant and simple culture of the Kumaoni people.

Other Major Festivals and Fairs

Some of the other notable festivals and fairs held in Bageshwar district are:

Religious Festivals

• Ram Navami Fair at the Ramghat Temple Complex in Bageshwar
• Patal Bhuvaneshwar Fair during Shravan month
• Annual Fairs at Agnikund Temple and Bhileshwar Temple

Harvest Festivals

• Nandadevi Jaat Yatra marking the annual migration of villagers and their livestock to higher hills
• Phool Dei festival celebrating start of the harvest season

Local Deity Fairs

• Surkanda Devi Mela
• Dattatreya Fair
• Nagnath Fair

Cattle Festivals

• Gauchar Mela – A huge cattle trading and exhibition fair held at Tharali during monsoons.

These festivals and fairs showcase the close bonds shared by the agrarian communities with nature, cattle and local deities in the villages of Bageshwar.

Significance of Fairs and Festivals

The numerous fairs and festivals of Bageshwar district have great cultural, social and economic importance. Here is a look at their key significance:

Cultural Significance

• Provide a glimpse into the vibrant culture, art forms and heritage of the region
• Folk music and dance performances showcase the rich intangible heritage
• Local cuisine, handicrafts and attires add to the cultural extravaganza

Social Significance

• Bring together people from various communities increasing social harmony
• Provide recreational opportunity to interact and bond
• Help preserve local customs and traditional practices

Economic Significance

• Temple fairs and festivals bring revenue to local businesses through sale of regional products
• Temporary shops, hotels and entertainment zones generate income
• Cattle and harvest festivals facilitate trade and commerce

Besides adding colors to the lives of locals, the fairs and festivals of Bageshwar also attract tourists every year. They provide the perfect snapshot of the region’s living heritage and must be experienced by visitors.

Conclusion to Fairs and Festivals of Bageshwar

Fairs and Festivals of Bageshwar : Bageshwar district truly comes alive during the festival months with its unique celebrations, rituals and traditions. These festivals and fairs form an integral fabric of the social, cultural and economic life of the region.

From agricultural festivals like Bikhauti and Harela to major temple fairs and local deity festivals, Bageshwar has something to offer for everyone. The locals celebrate all occasions with infectious enthusiasm that is a treat for outsiders to witness.

The vibrant festivals of Bageshwar provide the perfect glimpse into regional customs, performing arts, attires, cuisine and belief systems. They underscore the close community ties and simple living of the rural population. Their unique attractions definitely warrant them a place in every traveler’s itinerary.