Thursday, March 28, 2024
Himachal Pradesh

Fairs and Festivals


Festivals

Sairi

The first day of the month of Ashwin is celebrated as the festival of Sairi. This is a winter festival which comes when the maize crop is ready for harvesting. The nomadic Goddess of Bharmor (Gadderan) celebrate this prior to migrating downwards into the valleys of Chamba, Bhatiyat, Kangra and Mandi for the winters.

They treat it as a festival of farewells. At night they get drunk and dance and sing.

Sweet Bhaterus are cooked in each house and Pakodus (dumplings made out of ground Urd Dhal) are also cooked and served. The young men and women put Henna (seur) on their palms and the soles of their feet. At night the village barber decorates a large yellow lemon with kumkum and rice and arranges it in a basket with coconut and flowers. This he carries around the village from door to door. Each house-hold awaits the arrival of this basket and when it comes the carrier along with the basket are received warmly and flowers, sweets and money are placed in the basket as offering. This festival symbolises the well being and prosperity of the entire community. New brides visit their parents during this festival and those who cannot come for some reason, sent gifts to the parents.