Nainital Fairs and Festivals
Nainital is a cosmopolitan locality and abounds faiths and believes associated with various and sects of people living here through generations. Nainital is a delight to watch during festive seasons adorn with people from various religious sects who have lived and settled here through generations. Though Structure of Temples and Sculptures have varied drastically due to changes in time and era and look more like those made in Plains, the old age fairs and festivities are still celebrated in full splendour as these places of worship form the core of social and cultural activities of the Kumaoni people
Hill temples are the monuments having admixture of deep sense of art and culture. Sculpture varies with time of inception of the temple.The mode of worship is also different in many aspects from that of the plains. Modern day temples are more alike the temples of the plains, and the older ones fit to the Kumaoni influence. The best time to visit all these fairs and festivals are post harvest season when people retire a little from their daily hard chores at fields.
Following is list of Fairs and festivals celebrated in Nainital.
Naintial Festivals
Nanda Devi Mela (in September)
Nanda Devi Mela was originally conceptualized by King Kalyan Chand of Chand Dynasty of Garhwal in the 16th century, a contemporary of the Mughals, Nanda Devi Mela is celebrated at many places in Kumaon. Almora, Nainital, Nauti, Dandidhara, Munsyari and Ranikhet are among the most notable venues where locals celebrate Nanda Devi Mela. The process carrying the Doli of Nanda Devi in Almora is witnessed by huge crowds of devotees. People pray for prosperity, both material and spiritual, at the fair. The fair is held in the month of September at the Nanda Devi temple of Almora that was built during the reign of Raja Udhyot Chand. The fair has great religious and cultural significance as it is held in memory of Goddesses Nanda and Sunanda. The fair traces its origin to the reign of Raja Kalyan Chand in the 16th Century that makes it all the more important, historically.
Basant Panchami, Samvastar Pareva (Jan - Feb)
Basant Panchami is celebrated with great significance in Nainital to solemnize the coming of the spring season and also to the end of winter. Basant Panchami is generally celebrated during the traditional months of January to February. People worship Goddess Saraswati wears yellow clothes or use yellow handkerchiefs and in a few places people put a yellow tilak on their foreheads.
Uttarani or Kale Kaua (Approx 14 January)
Uttarani is celebrated in January on a major scale. The fair is held simultaneously at numerous places like Nainital, Bageshwar, Rameshwar, Pancheshwar, Salt Mahadev, Chitrashila, among others on the auspicious day of Uttarayani. The Dola of Chaumu is brought down to the temple at Pancheshwar. The festival of Uttarayani holds a special place in the culture of Uttarakhand, in general, and Kumaon, in particular.
Khatarua (Approx 17th Sep.)
Khatarua signifies the arrival of the autumn season, a very important time of the year for the pastoral - agricultural society and is celebrated on the first day of the month of Ashwin in mid September. Bonfires, around which children dance, and offerings of cucumber to the fire of Khatarua mark the celebrations. Cucumbers’ offerings, as is the popular belief, destroy all evil influences.
Batsavitri
Batsavitri are the mostly observed Sankranties throughout the region. This festival is celebrated on the Krishna amavasya (last day of the dark half of the month) of Jyestha and on the day married women worship Savitri and the Bat or banyan tree (Ficus benghalensis) and pray for the well being of their spouses. Women observe fast in honour of Savitri and Satyavan and remember how Savitri through her intense devotion saved her husband from the claws of death.
Phooldeyi or Phooldeli (Approx.14th March)
It is celebrated in the months of March/April. On the occasion of Phooldei, young girls put the first flowers of the season on the entrance or threshold of every house in the village, for good luck throughout the year. This is a big example of how communities are closely bonded and linked in the hills of Kumaon as no one puts these flowers in front of their own houses alone.
Bikhauti (Approx 14 April)
On the first of the navaratris (nine day fasting period) in the month of Chaitra, women sow seven types of grains. The germination of these grains symbolizes the future harvest. On the tenth day, the yellow leaves, called Harela, are cut people put them on their heads and tuck them behind their ears. During this very month of Chaitra (March-April) brothers send gifts for their sisters. These presents are called ‘Bikhauti’
Hariyala (Approx 16th July)
Celebrated in the month of Shravan (July- august), the month of festivals, to commemorate the wedding of Lord Shiva and Parvati, the festival is also associated with the arrival of the rainy season and the new harvest. On this day people make clay statues (Dikaras) of Shiva, Parvati, Ganesh etc. and worship them. The overworked bullocks find a rare a rest on the occasion of Harela.
Gheeya Sankranti or Olgia (Approx 16th Aug)
Olgia is celebrated on the first day of Bhado (middle of August), when the harvest is lush and green, vegetables are in abundance and the milch animals very productive. In ancient times sons-in-law and nephews would give presents to fathers-in-law and maternal uncles, respectively, in order to celebrate Olgia. Today agriculturists and artisans give presents to the owners of their land and purchasers of their tools and receive gifts and money in return. Binai (oral harp), datkhocha (metallic tooth pick), metal calipers, axes, ghee, vegetables and firewood are some of the presents exchanged on this day. People put ghee on their foreheads and eat ghee and chapatis stuffed with 'urad' dal. It is believed that walnuts sweeten after this festival. This festival, which is a celebration of the produce of the land, is now seldom celebrated.
Vasantotsav
Vasantotsavor means spring festival which is held every year at Ramnagar during the month of Jan-Feb. The event reflects cultural activities of both Kumaon and Garhwal.region of uttaranchal and there is a stiff competition among the participants .A large number of local artist ,people and tourists, including a good number of foreigners participate in the festival at Ramnagar which is near by the world famous Jim Corbett Park, the wildlife sanctuary of Uttar- Pradesh.
Holi Mahotsav
Holi Mahotsav is an effort of lacal who organised this fair in Nainital on the occasion of holi. The festivities reflect cultural and traditional rituals of Kumaon.
Fairs in Nainital (Mela)
Hariyali Devi Fair
Hariyali Devi fair is held during July on the occasion of Harela. Which is celebrated for the new season of corp.
Chhota Kailash Fair
Chhota Kailash fair takes place every year in the month of february on the occasion of Shivratri. This is a religious fair, and reflects the rich and varied culture and tradition of the area.Mnay people visit to choota kailash on this occasation
Sharadotsav (Winter Fair)
Sharadotsav is organised in Nainital in the month of October. Various cultural programmes, folk dances and folk arts are organised during this fair. A large number of people including foreign tourists visit this fair to have a glance of the local culture and traditions.
Ranibagh Fair
Ranibagh fair is held at Ranibagh, about 30kms. from Nainital on the occasion of Uttarayani every year. It has a great religious importance among the devotees.
Nainital Sightseeing - Places near Nainital: Bhowali, Jeolikot, Kainchi Dham, Corbett National Park, Kausani, Ranikhet, Binsar, Almora, Jageshwar, Mukteshwar, Pangot, Ramgarh, Kilbury, Khurpatal, Sattal, Naukuchiatal, Bhimtal
Other Lakes in Nainital: Bhimtal, Sattal, Naukuchiatal, Naini Lake, Khurpatal
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