Festivals & Events

Nine nights of worship of Goddess Durga, with fasting, kirtan and Durga Puja pandals. Temples such as Naina Devi (Nainital) and Kasar Devi (Almora) see large crowds. Hindu month: Ashwin, Shukla Paksha.

The victory of Lord Rama over Ravana. Almora is famous for its Dussehra, when giant effigies (putle) are paraded through the town, and the hill towns end their long Ramlila season. Hindu month: Ashwin Shukla Dashami.

The full moon of Ashwin, when kheer is left out under the moonlight and Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped (Kojagari Puja).

Married women fast from sunrise until moonrise for the well-being of their husbands. Hindu month: Kartik Krishna Chaturthi (Purnimanta).

The first day of the Diwali festival. Families buy metal utensils, silver or gold, and worship Dhanvantari and Lakshmi.

The festival of lights on Kartik Amavasya. In Kumaon, the Lakshmi Pad Aipan is drawn fresh at every doorway to welcome Goddess Lakshmi.

Sisters apply tilak to their brothers and pray for their long life, closing the five days of Diwali.

Worship of the Sun god with offerings at sunset and sunrise, observed by the Purvanchali community, including along the rivers and ghats of Haldwani.

Uttarakhand's own Diwali, celebrated on Kartik Shukla Ekadashi, eleven days after the main Diwali. Villagers swing flaming bhailo torches, honour their cattle and share traditional sweets. A state holiday in Uttarakhand.

The full moon of Kartik, marked by holy dips in rivers and lamps lit on the ghats.

The sun enters Capricorn and Uttarayan begins. In 2027 the Sankranti moment falls late on the night of 14 January, so many calendars observe it on 15 January. Check your local panchang.

Kumaon's Makar Sankranti festival. Sweet dough birds (ghughute) are fried and strung into necklaces, and children call the crows at dawn singing "Kale kauva kale, ghughuti mala khale". Families on either side of the Saryu river traditionally celebrate a day apart.

The great winter fair of Kumaon at the confluence of the Saryu and Gomti rivers in Bageshwar, beginning on Makar Sankranti. Holy dips at Bagnath temple, folk music, dance and a traditional market.

Worship of Goddess Saraswati on Magha Shukla Panchami. In Kumaon, this is when Baithki Holi (classical Holi singing) is in full swing.

The great night of Lord Shiva. Devotees throng Jageshwar Dham, Baijnath and Shiva temples across Kumaon for all-night worship.

The flower festival of Uttarakhand on Chaitra Sankranti, the first day of Chaitra. Young girls go door to door at dawn scattering flowers, rice and jaggery on each threshold, singing "Phool Dei, Chhamma Dei". Some calendars list 14 March.

Holika Dahan on 21 March and the colour day on 22 March. Kumaoni Holi is unique: months of Baithki Holi sung to classical ragas, followed by Khadi Holi sung standing in village courtyards.

Chaitra Shukla Pratipada begins the Hindu New Year, Vikram Samvat 2084, and nine days of worship of the Goddess ending on Ram Navami.

Vishuvat Sankranti, the Kumaoni solar new year and the first day of Baisakh. People take holy dips at river confluences, and the historic Syalde Bikhauti fair is held at Dwarahat (Almora).

The birth of Lord Rama on Chaitra Shukla Navami, ending Chaitra Navratri.

The birth of Lord Hanuman on Chaitra Purnima. Special worship at Hanuman Dham, Ramnagar and Hanuman temples across the region.

The annual foundation-day celebration at Neem Karoli Baba's Kainchi Dham ashram on the Bhowali–Almora road, drawing lakhs of devotees. Expect heavy traffic and plan your travel in advance.

The festival of greenery on Karka Sankranti, the first day of Shravan. Grains sown ten days earlier are cut and placed on the heads of family members with blessings, and saplings are planted. A state holiday in Uttarakhand.

Sisters tie rakhi on their brothers' wrists on Shravan Purnima.

The famous Bagwal of the Barahi Devi temple at Devidhura (Champawat), held on Raksha Bandhan, when rival groups take part in a ritual battle before the goddess.

Simha Sankranti, the first day of Bhado. Every family eats ghee with bedu roti and the first arbi (taro) leaves of the monsoon, a tradition of gratitude for the harvest.

The birth of Lord Krishna, celebrated at midnight with jhankis and bhajans. Some traditions observe it on 24 August.

The arrival of Lord Ganesha, on Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi.

Nine nights of worship of Goddess Durga in the month of Ashwin.

The victory of good over evil. Almora's effigy procession and the Ramlila season of the hill towns reach their finale.

Married women fast from sunrise until moonrise for the well-being of their husbands.

The first day of the Diwali festival.

The festival of lights on Kartik Amavasya.