Fairs and Festivals of District Bilaspur – Himachal Pradesh

By | June 25, 2020

Various fairs and festivals are traditional means of amusement and recreation for the people. It is rather a cultural heritage of the people. Various types of fairs and festivals are celebrated almost around the year are given below:

Lohri (Makar Sakranti):

  • It falls on 13th and 14th January. This is observed by igniting fires, distributing “reories, gachak and ground nuts” etc.
  • On this day, people mostly take “Khichri” with pure ghee. Among Hindus, take holy dip in the sacred rivers.

Basant Panchami:

  • It is a festival of colours.
  • People usually put on yellow clothes, cook yellow rice and other sweet preparations.
  • This festival bids farewell to winter and welcomes the spring.

Shivratri:

  • The festival is generally observed by Hindus in every household.
  • Lord Shiva is worshipped in various temples by offering water mixed milk on the Shivlingas.

Holi:

  • Holi is festival of colours. It usually falls in March.
  • Men, women and children form small groups and throw coloured water on one another.
  • They sing and dance. People also use abir and gulal.
  • They rub on the foreheads of the people. This festival is observed by igniting fires.

Baisakhi:

  • It falls on the 13th April. It is celebrated all over the district by all classes of people.
  • They put on new clothes and prepare halwa and lassi. A fair is held at many places.
  • Women buy bangles and children prefer to buy toys etc.

Janam Ashtmi:

  • Janam Ashtmi the birthday of Lord Krishna is celebrated in the month of August/September every year.
  • People worship in the temples and religious songs are sung.

Dussehra:

  • Dussehra is one of the great festivals of Hindus.
  • They celebrate it with gaiety in honour of Shri Ram’s victory over Ravan, the demon king of Lanka.
  • Dussehra is celebrated in form of a drama called Ramlila for ten days.
  • On the 10th day i.e. Vijay Dashmi, huge effigies of Ravan, Kumbh Karna, and Meghnath are stalled on the ground and set on fire after sunset.
  • It shows the victory of goodness over evil.

Diwali:

  • Diwali is a festival of lights, is celebrated to commemorate the return of Lord Sri Ram to
    Ayodhya after victory over Ravan.
  • This festival is held in the month of October/November. Diwali is celebrated with great pomp and show.
  • People whitewash their houses and shops.
  • On the night of Diwali, houses and shops are illuminated with electric bulbs, candles, and lamps.
  • Shopkeepers close their old accounts. They open new ones for the New Year.
  • It is believed that Goddess Lakshmi visits their houses on this day.
  • Children burn fireworks on this festival. People gift sweets and convey best wishes to neighbours, relatives, and friends.

Read also: Places of religious, historical or archaeological importance and tourist interest in District Bilaspur

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