Events

Uttarakhand's own Diwali, celebrated on Kartik Shukla Ekadashi, eleven days after the main Diwali. Villagers swing flaming bhailo torches, honour

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

The great winter fair of Kumaon at the confluence of the Saryu and Gomti rivers in Bageshwar, beginning on Makar

The sun enters Capricorn and Uttarayan begins. In 2027 the Sankranti moment falls late on the night of 14 January,

Kumaon's Makar Sankranti festival. Sweet dough birds (ghughute) are fried and strung into necklaces, and children call the crows at

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

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

Holika Dahan on 21 March and the colour day on 22 March. Kumaoni Holi is unique: months of Baithki Holi

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