FAIRS AND FESTIVALS
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Further south, in the same month, the Renuka Lake fair takes place in the district of Sirmaur. People gather on the shores of the lake -- which is shaped like a sleeping woman -- to celebrate the immortality of Renuka and her son. It is a major attraction for people of the surrounding villages. Purifying dips are taken in the lake as a part of worship, and there is also much singing and dancing and buying and selling.In July/August Chamba conmes alive with Minjar, a week-long festival celebrated to appease the god of rain. People step out in their beautiful traditional dress and revel in music and dance.
In the following month, September, the festival of Fulech takes place in Kinnaur. It is celebrated in village after village, starting in late August from Rupi in lower Kinnaur, and ending in the third week of September at Nesang in the arid region of upper Kinnaur. Fulech symbolises the end of summer, and the last flowers of the season are collected from pastures. It also marks the migration of the flocks to the plains. Fulech is a joyous festival of dancing and drinking, and an ideal time to see the people and their land, both at their best.
It is natural for people who are in such close communion with the beauty of nature to have a deep sense of joy and reverence. There are some 2000 gods worshipped in Himachal. Numerous fairs and festivals, held to honour particular deities, coincide with the cycle of seasons to become occasions for celebration, trade and even match-making. They attract people from all over the state, and at the larger fairs one can see Himachalis at their colourful best.
The most well attended fair is the Kullu Dussehra, in October. It marks the victory of Lord Rama over the demon king Ravana. Devotees, carrying gold and silver images of gods and goddesses on palanquins, come from all parts of Himachal to Kullu. On the first day, homage is paid to Lord Raghunath, the presiding deity. Thereafter follow nine days of rituals and much merry-making which includes dancing, singing and performances.
In February/March, Shivratri is celebrated with special fervour at Mandi and at the 9th-century temple of Baijnath in Kangra. At both places, devotees come from all parts of Himachal and outside for a week of prayer and festivity.
In the month of November, two important fairs take place in Himachal. Rampur, 140 km from Shimla becomes the venue for the Lavi fair, one of the biggest trade fairs in northern India. People from the remote mountain reaches of Lahaul, Spiti and Kinnaur congregate on the banks of the Satluj to trade in local produce which include homespun blankets and shawls, dry fruit and wool.
Sipi Fair
Time: Organised during May
Two kilometre from Mashobra, a Shimla suburb lies Sipur which is known for its Sipi Fair. The fair is named after Seep, a local deity. The legend has it that the temple existed here prior to the deity's visit to this place. According to the locals the place commands profound religious and mystical significance. No one spends the night here. The depth of the faith can be gauged from the fact that the visitors even dust their clothes before returning to the homes so that even a minute particle of the dust, a property of Seep deity , is not carried away. The tradition to visit the Sipi Fair is centuries old. It also finds special mention in the periodicals published during British regime .The place earlier belonged to the erstwhile Koti state. The star attraction of this fair is deity's visit from the nearby hamlet Deothi .The deity pays as much as three visits to this place throughout the year.The venue also become a makeshift market during the fair when the stalls of goods are decorated to attract the visitors.
Summer Festival
Time: Organised in June
Come summer and the summer queen decks up to welcome tourists and celebrate the pleasant summer which gives heavenly pleasure. Summer festival at Shimla is a memorable event when a variety of cultural programmes and events take place. This event also provides a glimpse of the rich cultural heritage spread throughout the state to the visitors.
Lavi
Time: organised in October/Nov
This age old fair brings excitement to the town of Rampur. This town, an entry point to Kinnaur, Tibet, Ladakh and Afghanistan continues to be an important trading town. Un till 1962 the traders from Tibbet visited this fair but the Chinese aggression put the business on a grinding halt. A wide variety of goods including wood and woolen goods, dry fruits and horses are bartered and sold during this fair. Cultural programmes are also organised to mark the occasion.
Jatar
Time: Organised April/July
Jatar in local dialect means festival. Normally Jatars are dedicated to local deities, followed by celebrations. The celebrations are marked by community dancing and exchanging hospitality and food. These festivals continu for weeks together. Besides Jubbal and Rohru ,this festival is also organised in Dodra Kwar sub-division.
Pathar Ka Khal
Time: organised next day to Diwali festival
25 kms from Shimla, Dhami is known for its stone -game festival.The festival is organised on the very next day of Diwali festival. This strange festival is organised to please a local deity 'sati'. The residents divide themselves into two groups and hurl stones at each other. The game is stopped when someone is injured. This unique festival is played near the temple of Sati. The groups of people throwing stones at each other are called Khatedu and Jayogi. The blood from the wounded person is collected and is offered to the deity.
Bhunda/Shant
Time: Organised once in 12 years
The Bhunda festival is organised to please goddess Kali and to ward off the evil spirits. At some places this festival is also organised to please Parsuram. A deadly rope slide is performed by a man known as Beda in this festival. A specially built rope is stretched across two hills to enable the Beda to slide down. His wife wails beneath as the death is certain. If the slider lands safe, he is awarded with money or kind. This ceremony has its roots in human sacrifice. Earlier the Beda was directly thrown into a gorge to perform the ceremony. In Shant festival no such ceremony is performed instead goats are sacrificed to please the deities.
Ice-Skating Carnival
Time: Organised in December
The most important event of December month in Shimla is the Ice Skating Carnival. Fancy dress and other competitions, and the grand finale of a torchlight tattoo make it a marvellous occasion. Christmas celebrations mark the end of this festive month and churches in Shimla resound with the sonorous chimes of bells. The new year eve is also celebrated with great gaiety in Shimla.
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