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Join me in exploring six celebrations where dainty villages come alive with colours, folk music, animated dances, and enchanting folklore.
India’s rich Himalayan belt boasts not only magnificent landscapes and delicious food but also rich folklore and stunning cultural diversity found in its rustic villages. One way to explore these quaint highland villages is by partaking in their festivals. Here is a list of six such festivals where villages become abuzz with colours, folk music, animated dances, and captivating legends.
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Celebrated for two days during the pleasant months of June and July, the Hemis festival in Ladakh is a sensory delight for one and all. At dawn, I arrived at the spacious courtyard of the Hemis monastery, 35 km from Leh market, to witness monks praying to Guru Rinpoche, the representative reincarnate of Buddha. The sound of the beating of giant cymbals and Buddhist prayers filled the air, as the surrounding mountains echoed mystical tunes. By afternoon, just like hundreds of other locals, foreign tourists, and journalists, I tried to capture the beautiful Cham dance by clicking lots of photographs. Performed by monks clad in elaborate masks and ornate dresses, the Cham is a carefully choreographed folk dance that symbolises the victory of good over evil. During the festival, I also tasted Tibetan delicacies and purchased handcrafted souvenirs from the small bazaar that was set up in the monastery. Before you leave, make sure to witness the unfurling of ancient thangkas—painted Buddhist banners that delineate the rich history and folklore of the region. It was indeed a fascinating sight to witness!
Splotches of vivid colours, people dressed in vibrant clothes representing Hindu deities, and a colourful procession moving from village to village mark the legendary Holi of Sangla. Set amidst towering snow-capped Himalayan mountains, including the mighty Kinner-Kailash, Sangla Valley's famed Holi celebration also entails animated Ramayana performances, and the ever-flowing Phasur wine and folk dances. To make the most of the festival, I spent two days celebrating Holi, which usually goes on for four days. Traveller's trip: Holi generally coincides with the wedding season. If you get the chance, attend a local Himachali wedding to witness a different kind of mirth. Friends and families gather to celebrate by dancing in a circle, clad in garlands of edible pine nuts and dried fruits. Amidst flowing alcohol and a delicious dham feast to look forward to, you can lose yourself in a beautiful pahadi wedding.
Saga Dawa is usually held in the fourth month of the Tibetan lunar calendar. The full moon day of Saga Dawa is considered a great occasion as it commemorates the birth, enlightenment and Nirvana of Lord Buddha. During the festival, a colourful procession takes place in Gangtok and in the other towns and villages of Sikkim. What I took away from this experience was the traditional dance and music arrangement. On this festive occasion, monks dress in vibrant robes to play traditional musical instruments such as drums, trumpets, and cymbals. As you explore the city of Gangtok and its bustling little alleys, you can also look forward to the public gathering during Saga Dawa. Devotees participate in the procession and gather to touch their heads with holy scriptures or sacred objects. Against the stunning backdrop of Mt Kanchenjunga, this colourful festival brings forth a blissful experience.
Celebrated during the first half of February, Fagli is arguably the most important festival of Lahaul’s Pattan Valley. During the week-long festival, houses are decorated, oil lamps are lit, and a baraza—a structure made of bamboo sticks and covered in white cloth—is set up in each house. According to lore, the barazas represent an angelic grandma that is believed to reside on a local peak, and who visits village households to bring prosperity. While Pattan Valley is difficult to reach in the month of February, a series of exciting festivals await you to compensate for the extra efforts in travel. This experience was on my bucket list for a long time and for good reason.
When it comes to picking bucket list travel experiences, Arunachal's Mopin festival should definitely make the cut, and here's why... Celebrated in the East and West Siang districts of Arunachal Pradesh, nearly 700 km North of the capital of Tawang, Mopin offers a one-of-a-kind experience. The five-day-long festival is the most important event of the year for the Galo tribe who gather in the Donyi Polo temple of Aalo village for a grand celebration. Traditional white robes are adorned, rice paste is lovingly painted on faces, and bamboo baskets are carried. At the gathering, rice wine is served and dances are performed, eventually leading to an animal sacrifice. So, if you’re looking for an exotic, joyous, bizarre, and scenic experience, heading Northeast to Mopin during early April is the best thing to do.
The harvest festival is celebrated by all of Assam as the state comes together to mark the beginning of a new agricultural calendar. Dressed in traditional dhotis and mekhalas of red and white, men and women dance in brisk, graceful steps to traditional songs. During my time in Guwahati, I had the chance to visit one of the popular grounds that host Bihu festivities. Pulsating with dance, music, and even theatrical performances, the event saw love pouring from hundreds of locals who gathered for food and merriment. If you are in a smaller village in Assam, you can look forward to the food preparations at any Bihu festival, right from the delicious pithas to the occasional coconut laddoos. Alongside, traditional sports such as Tekeli Bhonga add to the merriment. Amongst the Cham dance of Ladakh, vivid folk tales of Lahaul, or the spiritual experiences of Sikkim—which of these experiences resonate as the most thrilling to you, compelling you to teleport there instantly, in the present moment?
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