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FESTIVAL CALENDAR · UTTARAKHAND · 048

Festivals in Uttarakhand.

48 festivals across Uttarakhand — organised by month.

January

Auli Winter Carnival

Auli

Skiing competitions and snow sports festival at Auli's slopes at 2,500m, featuring national-level ski races, snowboarding, and après-ski cultural programs.

Magh Mela

Uttarkashi

A week-long fair on the banks of the Bhagirathi with ritual bathing, folk performances, and a vibrant local market — one of Uttarkashi's biggest gatherings.

Uttarayani Mela

Ranikhet

Harvest festival celebrated with local fairs, traditional food, folk songs, and community bonfire gatherings.

Magh Mela (Jaunsar)

Chakrata

Local winter harvest fair with bonfires, folk songs, and traditional Jaunsar food celebrations in the hill villages around Chakrata.

Uttarayani Fair

Mukteshwar

Makar Sankranti celebrations in the Kumaon hills with community bonfires, traditional Aipan art displays, and local markets selling woolen handicrafts.

Ganga Aarti at Har Ki Pauri (Kumbh legacy)

Haridwar

The spectacular daily Ganga Aarti at Har Ki Pauri draws massive crowds; during Kumbh Mela years the gathering swells to tens of millions.

Binsar Makar Sankranti

Binsar

Hill communities around Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary celebrate with bonfires, traditional Kumaoni folk songs, and exchange of khichari (lentil-rice dish) at dawn.

February

Gopeshwar Shivratri Mela

Gopeshwar

Grand fair at the ancient Gopinath Temple where a trident stands exposed to all weather without rusting; thousands gather for night-long Shiva worship.

March

International Yoga Festival

Rishikesh

Hundreds of yoga teachers from 100+ countries at Parmarth Niketan. Free sessions, Ganga aarti.

Uttarkashi Mahadev Temple Festival (Maha Shivaratri)

Uttarkashi

Grand Shivaratri celebrations at the ancient Vishwanath Temple with night-long vigils, abhishekam, and devotional singing.

Maha Shivaratri at Tungnath

Tungnath

Devotees make the high-altitude trek to worship at the ancient shrine on Shivaratri, one of the Panch Kedar temples.

Corbett Holi with Elephants

Jim Corbett National Park

Unique celebration where forest department elephants are decorated and visitors play Holi in the buffer zone, combined with nature walks and wildlife talks.

Tehri Lake Festival

Tehri Lake

Adventure sports festival on Tehri Dam reservoir featuring kayaking, jet skiing, paragliding, and cultural performances on Asia's highest dam lake.

Phool Dei

Dhanaulti

Children go door-to-door placing flower patterns on thresholds with rice paste, singing Phool Dei songs to welcome spring in the Garhwal hills around Dhanaulti.

April

Bissu Mela (Jaunsar-Bawar New Year)

Chakrata

The Jaunsar-Bawar tribal New Year celebration with traditional Harul dance, animal sacrifice rituals, and community feasting — a unique Uttarakhand festival.

Pithoragarh Hilljatra

Pithoragarh

Kumaoni spring festival at Pithoragarh's Rai ground with masked dances, agricultural rituals, and a unique ritual ploughing ceremony symbolizing the farming season start.

Yamuna Chhath

Yamunotri

Devoted worship of the river Yamuna on her sacred day with offerings, aarti, and ritual bathing at the source.

May

Chaukori Tea Festival

Chaukori

Festival at the Chaukori tea gardens — among India's highest at 2,010m — with tea-tasting sessions, plantation tours, and Kumaoni cultural performances against Panchachuli peaks.

Kedarnath Opening

Kedarnath

Temple doors open after 6 months of winter. First darshan of the season. Deity carried back from Ukhimath.

Badri-Kedar Festival

Joshimath

Festivities marking the annual opening of both Badrinath and Kedarnath temple doors, with the doli (palanquin) procession departing Joshimath for Badrinath.

Guptkashi Vishwanath Temple Festival

Guptkashi

Celebrations at the ancient Vishwanath Temple when the Kedarnath pilgrimage season opens, with the deity's winter-seat rituals and devotional gatherings.

Badrinath Temple Opening (Kapaat Kholna)

Badrinath

The sacred temple doors open for the season after winter closure, marked by elaborate Vedic rituals and the arrival of the deity's idol from Joshimath.

Gangotri Temple Opening (Akshaya Tritiya)

Gangotri

The temple doors open for the pilgrimage season on Akshaya Tritiya with chanting, pujas, and the return of the sacred idol from Mukhba village.

Tungnath Temple Opening

Tungnath

The world's highest Shiva temple opens after winter with ritثals and the return of the deity's idol from Makkumath village.

Yamunotri Temple Opening (Akshaya Tritiya)

Yamunotri

The temple doors open for the Char Dham season with rituals at the hot springs and the sacred Divya Shila; pilgrims cook rice in the thermal water as prasad.

Tungnath Temple Opening

Chopta

The kapaat (doors) of the world's highest Shiva temple at 3,680m open with Vedic rituals,ثم the deity is carried in a palanquin procession from Makkumath winter seat.

June

Ganga Dussehra

Haridwar

Celebrates the descent of the Ganges to Earth. Thousands gather at Har Ki Pauri for ritual bathing, lamp floating, and evening aarti.

Devprayag Ganga Dussehra

Devprayag

Festival at the sacred confluence where Alaknanda and Bhagirathi merge to form the Ganga, with ritual bathing, deepdan (lamp floating), and Sanskrit recitations.

Hemkund Sahib Prakash Utsav

Hemkund Sahib

The Gurdwara opens each year around the last week of May after the snow clears. First-day nishan sahib (flag) hoisting is a major Sikh gathering — thousands of pilgrims trek up together. 2026 opening: May 25.

Valley of Flowers Opening Season

Valley of Flowers

UNESCO World Heritage site opens to trekkers; peak bloom in July-August features 600+ flowering species including Brahma Kamal, blue poppy, and cobra lily.

Badri-Kedar Festival

Badrinath

A cultural festival celebrating the twin shrines of Badrinath and Kedarnath through classical dance, music, and devotional performances.

Kanatal Surkanda Devi Mela

Kanatal

Fair at Surkanda Devi Temple (3,030m) near Kanatal with devotees trekking 2 km to the summit temple, offering bells and red cloth to the goddess.

July

Harela Festival

Kausani

Agricultural festival where saplings are planted and small herb gardens are sown 10 days before; on Harela day, green shoots are placed behind ears and on caps.

Kanwar Yatra

Haridwar

Millions of Shiva devotees (Kanwariyas) carry holy Ganga water from Haridwar to their local Shiva temples, one of the largest annual pilgrimages in the world.

Jageshwar Monsoon Mela

Almora

Month-long fair at the 9th-century Jageshwar Dham temple complex of 124 Shiva temples in a deodar forest, with special Shravan Monday worship.

Harela Mela (Monsoon Festival)

Bhimtal

Traditional Kumaoni harvest festival marking the onset of monsoon and the sowing season. Held at Ramleela Ground in Bhimtal, participants plant barley seeds in small pots (symbolising prosperity and good harvest). The festival celebrates agricultural cycles and spiritual renewal rooted in Himalayan traditions.

August

Nanda Devi Raj Jat Yatra

Munsiyari

Epic 280-km pilgrimage from Nauti village to Roopkund and Homkund, escorting a four-horned ram representing Nanda Devi across high Himalayan passes.

Nanda Devi Raj Jat Yatra

Roopkund

An epic Himalayan pilgrimage passing through Roopkund where a four-horned ram leads the procession carrying Goddess Nanda Devi's symbolic journey to her husband's home.

September

Nanda Devi Mela

Ranikhet

A vibrant fair dedicated to Goddess Nanda Devi with colourful processions, folk music, and traditional Kumaoni dance.

Champawat Nanda Devi Fair

Champawat

Fair at the Baleshwar Temple complex and Nanda Devi Temple in Champawat — the ancient capital of the Chand dynasty — with Chholia war dance and folk processions.

Nanda Devi Mahotsav

Nainital

Grand procession carrying the idol of Nanda Devi through Nainital's Mall Road with folk music, Chholia dance, and decorated floats.

Mata Murti Ka Mela

Badrinath

Annual fair honouring Mata Murti, mother of Nar and Narayan, held on the banks of the Alaknanda River with rituals and local festivities.

Nanda Ashtami Trek Gathering

Roopkund

Trekkers and pilgrims gather at Bedni Bugyal (en route to Roopkund) for Nanda Ashtami prayers at the high-altitude meadow shrine.

October

Nainital Autumn Festival

Nainital

Week-long cultural extravaganza at Nainital's Flats ground with boat races on Naini Lake, flower shows, music performances, and heritage walks.

Gangotri Diwali (Temple Closing)

Gangotri

The temple closes for winter on Diwali day with grand celebrations; the deity is carried in a palanquin procession to Mukhba for the winter.

Lansdowne Autumn Festival

Lansdowne

Garhwal Rifles regimental town hosts a cultural festival with military band performances, nature trails, and heritage walks through this quiet cantonment.

November

Rudraprayag Kartik Purnima Mela

Rudraprayag

Fair at the Rudranath and Chamunda Devi temples at the confluence of Alaknanda and Mandakini rivers, with oil lamp floats on the river and Garhwali folk performances.

December

Mussoorie Winterline Carnival

Mussoorie

Festival celebrating the rare Winterline phenomenon visible from Mussoorie where the horizon glows at sunset, with heritage walks, food festivals, and literary readings.

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