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Culture of Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand has a rich and beautiful culture shaped by its mountains, rivers, villages, temples, festivals, folk music, traditional food and simple way of life. From Garhwal to Kumaon, every region carries its own customs, language, dress, songs, stories and local traditions.
Many parts of our culture are well known, but many local traditions, village festivals, folk dances, old stories, rituals, food habits, fairs and community practices are still not properly documented. We want to make it easier for people to understand what makes Uttarakhand’s culture so unique and deeply connected with nature, faith and everyday mountain life.
At WeUttarakhand, our aim is to bring Uttarakhand’s culture together in one simple, useful and trustworthy place.
Fairs And Festivals of Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand is known for its colourful fairs and festivals that reflect the faith, culture and community life of the mountains. From grand celebrations like Nanda Devi Raj Jat, Kumbh Mela, Harela and Uttarayani to local village fairs, temple gatherings, seasonal festivals and traditional rituals, every celebration carries a deep connection with nature, devotion and local identity.
Bagwal - Devidhura Fair
District: Champawat
Type: Cultural Fair
Time: Raksha Bandhan period
Bagwal is one of Kumaon’s most unique traditional fairs, held at Devidhura near Maa Varahi Devi Temple with deep local faith and community participation.
Bagwali Pokhar Fair
District: Almora
Type: Religious Fair
Time: Yam Dwitiya / Bhai Dooj
Bagwali Pokhar Fair is a traditional Kumaoni fair celebrated around Bhai Dooj, bringing together local faith, seasonal celebration and community gathering.
Basant Panchami
District: Across Uttarakhand
Type: Seasonal Festival
Time: January-February
Basant Panchami marks the arrival of spring after winter, celebrated with devotion, colour and a sense of seasonal renewal across Uttarakhand.
Bat Savitri
District: Across Uttarakhand
Type: Religious Festival
Time: May-June
Bat Savitri is observed by married women who worship Savitri Devi and the banyan tree, praying for the well-being and long life of their husbands.
Baurani Fair
District: Pithoragarh
Type: Religious Fair
Time: 15 days after Diwali
Baurani Fair is held near Saimdevta Temple in Pithoragarh and carries religious importance along with memories of older local trade traditions.
Budi Diwali
District: Hilly regions of Uttarakhand
Type: Cultural Festival
Time: 15 days after Diwali
Budi Diwali is celebrated in several hill regions of Uttarakhand, keeping alive older local customs connected with light, community and traditional festivities.
Chaiti Fair
District: Udham Singh Nagar
Type: Religious And Cultural Fair
Time: Navratri
Chaiti Fair is held during Navratri at Kashipur, where devotion, local shopping, entertainment and community gatherings continue for several days.
Chandrabadni Fair
District: Tehri Garhwal
Type: Religious Fair
Time: Festival period
Chandrabadni Fair is associated with the revered Chandrabadni temple area in Tehri, reflecting the deep temple traditions and local devotion of Garhwal.
Chaupakhya Festival
District: Pithoragarh
Type: Religious Festival
Time: Navratri
Chaupakhya Festival is celebrated at Chaumi Devta Temple in Rayansi, carrying the local religious traditions of Kumaon’s Pithoragarh region.
Chhipla Jaat
District: Pithoragarh
Type: Religious Yatra
Time: Traditional yatra period
Chhipla Jaat is a barefoot religious journey to Chipla Kedar, marked by worship, ritual bathing, community meals, songs, dances and strong local faith.
Dhaulinag Utsav
District: Bageshwar
Type: Religious Fair
Time: Nag Panchami and Ashwin Shukla Panchami
Dhaulinag Utsav is linked with Dhaulinag Temple in Bageshwar, where devotees worship Nag Devta through fairs, rituals and local religious gatherings.
Dudhiyal Devi Fair
District: Tehri Garhwal
Type: Religious Fair
Time: Every 12 years
Dudhiyal Devi Fair is celebrated at Paunada village in the Budha Kedar region, carrying a rare 12-year tradition of faith and community gathering.
Gabladev Fair
District: Pithoragarh
Type: Religious Fair
Time: Annual
Gabladev Fair is observed by the people of Darma Valley, reflecting the strong religious identity and cultural traditions of high-altitude Kumaon communities.
Gaindi Khagoti Fair
District: Pauri Garhwal
Type: Cultural Fair
Time: From Basant Panchami to Baisakhi
Gaindi Khagoti Fair is celebrated in Chwicha village, once known as an important cultural gathering with folk traditions and local community participation.
Gananath Fair
District: Almora
Type: Religious Fair
Time: Festival period
Gananath Fair is held at the ancient Gananath Temple near Almora, known for its Shiva temple, caves and strong local religious importance.
Ganga Dusshera Or Dasar
District: Across Uttarakhand
Type: Religious Festival
Time: May-June
Ganga Dusshera is observed by worshipping the sacred Ganga, taking holy baths and placing traditional Dasar designs on homes and temples.
Gauchar Mela
District: Chamoli
Type: Trade And Cultural Fair
Time: 14 November
Gauchar Mela is one of Uttarakhand’s major trade fairs, where local products, cottage industries, folk songs, dances and cultural performances come together.
Gendua Fair
District: Uttarkashi
Type: Cultural Fair
Time: Makar Sankranti
Gendua Fair is celebrated in the Singtur Patti region around Makar Sankranti, carrying traditional stories, village identities and local cultural practices.
Ghandiyal Devta Raaj Jaat
District: Tehri Garhwal
Type: Religious Fair
Time: Traditional fair period
Ghandiyal Devta Raaj Jaat is a traditional Tehri fair dedicated to local deity worship, reflecting Garhwal’s old religious customs and community devotion.
Guru Kailapeer Fair
District: Tehri Garhwal
Type: Religious And Cultural Fair
Time: Annual
Guru Kailapeer Fair is an old traditional fair of Budakedar, known for deity processions, local devotion, Ramleela traditions and community celebration.
Haatkalika Fair
District: Pithoragarh
Type: Religious Fair
Time: Chaitra and Bhado Ashtami
Haatkalika Fair is held at the Kalika Temple in Gangolihat, where devotees arrive with drums, flags and prayers for Goddess Kalika.
Harela And Bhitauli
District: Kumaon region
Type: Agricultural And Family Festival
Time: Chaitra / March-April
Harela and Bhitauli connect farming, family bonds and seasonal change, with sprouted grains symbolising harvest and brothers sending gifts to sisters.
Harela Festival
District: Kumaon region
Type: Agricultural Festival
Time: Shravan / Monsoon
Harela marks greenery, farming and the arrival of the monsoon season, making it one of Kumaon’s most loved nature-linked festivals.
Harin Chital
District: Pithoragarh
Type: Folk Drama Festival
Time: Late August
Harin Chital is a traditional folk drama of Pithoragarh, where performers dress as spotted deer and present dances with cultural and religious meaning.
Hilljatra
District: Pithoragarh
Type: Agricultural And Pastoral Festival
Time: Bhadrapad
Hilljatra is a major festival of pastoral and farming communities in Pithoragarh, with roots linked to old Kumaoni and western Nepal traditions.
Jagda Festival
District: Dehradun
Type: Religious And Cultural Festival
Time: Bhadrapad
Jagda Festival is celebrated in the Jaunsar-Bawar region in honour of Mahasu Devta, bringing together devotion, music, rituals and local celebration.
Jageshwar Fair
District: Almora
Type: Religious Fair
Time: Baishakh
Jageshwar Fair is held at the famous Shiva temple complex of Jageshwar, drawing devotees to one of Kumaon’s most important sacred sites.
Janopunyu
District: Across Uttarakhand
Type: Religious Festival
Time: Traditional calendar period
Janopunyu is part of Uttarakhand’s traditional religious calendar, observed with local customs, ritual practices and community-level cultural significance.
Janti Fair
District: Chamoli
Type: Religious Fair
Time: Every 6 years
Janti Fair is celebrated at Pandukeshwar Temple near Vishnuganga River, lasting several days and carrying deep religious importance for local communities.
Jauljibi Mela
District: Pithoragarh
Type: Cultural And Trade Fair
Time: 14-21 November
Jauljibi Mela is held at the confluence of Kali and Gori rivers, bringing together Shauka, Nepali and Kumaoni cultural and trade traditions.
Kalika Fair, Bungkhal
District: Pauri Garhwal
Type: Religious Fair
Time: Annual
Kalika Fair, also known as Bungkhal Mela, is held at Kalika Devi Temple and attracts devotees from many nearby villages of Pauri Garhwal.
Kalsin Fair
District: Champawat
Type: Local Fair
Time: Annual
Kalsin Fair is a one-day fair held near Shyamlatal, close to the Tanakpur-Champawat route, with local religious and community significance.
Kamleshwar Fair
District: Pauri Garhwal
Type: Religious Fair
Time: Kartik / November
Kamleshwar Fair is held on Vaikuntha Chaturdashi and is associated with deep religious faith centred around the Kamleshwar temple tradition.
Kandali Festival
District: Pithoragarh
Type: Cultural Festival
Time: Every 12 years
Kandali Festival is celebrated by Chaudans region communities every 12 years, linked with folk memory, dance, songs and the blooming Kandali plant.
Khatarua
District: Kumaon region
Type: Agricultural Festival
Time: Mid-September
Khatarua is a traditional pastoral-agricultural festival of Kumaon, marking the arrival of autumn and reflecting older village life and seasonal rhythms.
Kot Ki Mai Fair
District: Bageshwar
Type: Religious Fair
Time: Chaitra Navratri
Kot Ki Mai Fair is celebrated from Panchami to Ashtami of Navratri in honour of Bhramri Devi and Nanda Devi.
Kumaoni Holi
District: Kumaon region
Type: Cultural Festival
Time: Holi season
Kumaoni Holi is known for its musical traditions, including Baithki Holi, Khari Holi and Mahila Holi, blending devotion, melody and community joy.
Makar Sankranti - Ghughutia
District: Across Uttarakhand
Type: Seasonal Festival
Time: Makar Sankranti
Ghughutia is celebrated on Makar Sankranti, marking Uttarayan and seasonal change with traditional foods, family customs and regional names across Uttarakhand.
Maun Mela
District: Uttarakhand
Type: Cultural Festival
Time: Traditional festival period
Maun Mela reflects Uttarakhand’s unusual and vibrant festive customs, where local traditions, community rituals and cultural memory come together.
Nanda Devi Fair
District: Almora and other regions
Type: Religious And Cultural Fair
Time: August-September
Nanda Devi Fair celebrates the deep faith of Uttarakhand’s people in Goddess Nanda, blending devotion, folk traditions and community gatherings.
Olgia / Ghee Sankranti
District: Across Uttarakhand
Type: Seasonal Festival
Time: Ghee Sankranti
Olgia, also known as Ghee Sankranti, is an old Uttarakhand festival connected with traditional culture, seasonal change and local food customs.
Purnagiri Fair
District: Champawat
Type: Religious Fair
Time: After Holi / Vishuwat Sankranti period
Purnagiri Fair is one of Kumaon’s longest religious fairs, attracting many pilgrims to the sacred Purnagiri shrine after Holi.
Rameshwar Fair
District: Pithoragarh
Type: Religious And Cultural Fair
Time: Makar Sankranti
Rameshwar Fair is held during Makar Sankranti, combining religious devotion with night-long cultural events, singing, dancing and local community participation.
Sameshwarotsav
District: Uttarkashi
Type: Religious Fair
Time: August-September
Sameshwarotsav is a three-day fair at Uprikot village, known for ritual practices by shamans and strong local temple traditions.
Saton-Athon Festival
District: Pithoragarh
Type: Cultural Festival
Time: Traditional festival period
Saton-Athon is an important festival of Pithoragarh, where families wear new clothes and observe local customs with collective celebration.
Selku Fair
District: Uttarakhand
Type: Cultural And Religious Fair
Time: Traditional fair period
Selku Fair reflects Uttarakhand’s strong religious spirit and traditional values, celebrated with local customs, devotion and community participation.
Somnath / Masi Fair
District: Almora
Type: Religious Fair
Time: Annual
Somnath or Masi Fair is held in Masi village of Almora district, centred around the Someshwar Mahadev Temple and local religious traditions.
Syalde Bikhauti
District: Almora
Type: Cultural Festival
Time: Vishuwat Sankranti
Syalde Bikhauti is celebrated around Vishuwat Sankranti and is linked with old victory traditions, Bagwal customs and the historic town of Dwarahat.
Tapkeshwar Fair
District: Dehradun
Type: Religious Fair
Time: Shivratri
Tapkeshwar Fair is held around Tapkeshwar Mahadev Temple in Dehradun, where devotees gather in large numbers to worship Lord Shiva.
Thal Mela
District: Pithoragarh
Type: Trade And Cultural Fair
Time: Baisakhi
Thal Mela is an important fair held at Thal town near the Ramganga, known for trade, local gathering and Kumaoni cultural importance.
Uttarayani Fair
District: Bageshwar and other places
Type: Religious And Cultural Fair
Time: Makar Sankranti
Uttarayani Fair is held at Bageshwar and several other places, combining pilgrimage, local trade, riverbank rituals and traditional community celebration.
Vishuvat Sankranti / Bikhoti Festival
District: Across Uttarakhand
Type: Traditional New Year Festival
Time: Vishuwat Sankranti / Baisakhi period
Bikhoti marks the traditional New Year period in Uttarakhand, celebrated with local rituals, seasonal joy and strong regional cultural identity.
Folk Dance and Song of Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand has a rich cultural identity, and its folk dances and songs beautifully reflect the life, faith and traditions of the mountains. Whether you are learning about Uttarakhand’s culture, documenting your village traditions, or reconnecting with the songs and dances of your roots, this space is made to help you begin with clarity, respect and love for our mountain heritage.
Barada Nati
Region: Jaunsar-Bawar, Dehradun
Type: Folk Dance
Occasion: Religious festivals and social functions
Barada Nati is a colourful folk dance of the Jaunsar-Bawar region, performed by boys and girls during festive and social gatherings.
Langvir Nritya
Region: Tehri Garhwal
Type: Folk Dance
Occasion: Traditional celebrations
Langvir Nritya is a powerful acrobatic dance where a male performer balances and rotates on a fixed bamboo pole to the rhythm of Dhol and Damana.
Pandav Nritya
Region: Garhwal
Type: Folk Dance
Occasion: Dussehra and Diwali
Pandav Nritya narrates episodes from the Mahabharata through dance, music and performance, especially in Chamoli and Pauri Garhwal.
Shotiya Tribal Folk Dances
Region: Bhotiya communities
Type: Folk Dance
Occasion: Death ceremonies
Shotiya tribal dances such as Dhurang and Dhuring are linked with death rituals and reflect the spiritual beliefs of Bhotiya communities.
Chhopati
Region: Rawain-Jaunpur, Tehri Garhwal
Type: Folk Song
Occasion: Social singing traditions
Chhopati songs are traditional love songs sung in a question-and-answer style between men and women in the Rawain-Jaunpur region.
Chounphula And Jhumeila
Region: Garhwal
Type: Folk Dance
Occasion: Basant Panchami to Baisakhi
Chounphula and Jhumeila are seasonal folk forms performed in groups, celebrating nature, community life and the arrival of spring.
Basanti
Region: Garhwal
Type: Folk Song
Occasion: Spring season
Basanti folk songs celebrate the coming of spring, blooming flowers and new life in the valleys and villages of Garhwal.
Mangal
Region: Uttarakhand
Type: Folk Song
Occasion: Marriage ceremonies
Mangal songs are sung during weddings as sacred puja songs, often performed along with priestly Sanskrit chants and traditional marriage rituals.
Jagars
Region: Uttarakhand
Type: Folk Song
Occasion: Deity and spirit invocation
Jagars are spiritual folk performances used to invoke local deities, ancestral spirits and divine powers through singing, drums and ritual trance.
Bajuband
Region: Himalayan pastoral communities
Type: Folk Song
Occasion: Traditional singing gatherings
Bajuband is a folk song of love and sacrifice, often sung as a dialogue between a man and woman or between young lovers.
Khuded
Region: Uttarakhand
Type: Folk Song
Occasion: Emotional folk singing
Khuded songs express the pain of women separated from their husbands, often reflecting migration, hardship and longing in hill life.
Chhura
Region: Shepherd communities
Type: Folk Song
Occasion: Shepherd life and guidance
Chhura songs are sung among shepherds, where elders share advice and lived experience with younger people about grazing and pastoral life.
Ramola
Region: Kumaon
Type: Folk Song
Occasion: Traditional storytelling
Ramola belongs to Kumaon’s rich ballad tradition, where music, myth, romance and storytelling come together through old folk narratives.
Chhapeli
Region: Kumaon
Type: Folk Dance
Occasion: Folk celebrations
Chhapeli is a lively duet dance of love and beauty, performed with music, mirror, handkerchief and rhythmic instruments like Hurka and Manjira.
Chancheri
Region: Danpur Patti, Bageshwar
Type: Folk Dance
Occasion: Group celebrations
Chancheri is a collective dance of Kumaon, performed by men and women in a semi-circle with slow tempo and joyful group movement.
Jhora
Region: Kumaon
Type: Folk Dance
Occasion: Fairs, weddings and spring celebrations
Jhora is a large community dance where men and women form circles, sing together and move rhythmically to Hurka, flute and cymbals.
Choliya Dance
Region: Kumaon
Type: Folk Dance
Occasion: Weddings and processions
Choliya is a martial dance performed with swords and shields, carrying old warrior traditions of Kumaon, especially during wedding processions.
Thali, Jadda And Jhainta
Region: Kumaon
Type: Folk Dance
Occasion: Social and festive gatherings
Thali is a graceful women’s dance, while Jadda and Jhainta bring men and women together in energetic group movement and celebration.