The culture of Lahaul has been influenced not only by its natural

surroundings but also by the cultural influence that Tibet has had on
it. The folk dances, fairs and festivals throw a direct light on how the
people of Lahaul have captured the essence of even mundane
practices into rituals and traditions.

1. PAURI FAIR : This fair is celebrated during the 3rd week of

August every year. In earlier times this was the most prominent
fair of Lahaul. People gather there not only from Lahaul but
from Chamba and Kullu too. The fair is a combination of
pilgrimage and festive activities. Preparations are made at least a
week in advance and most of the people leave their homes a day
before the celebrations, where they have faced darshan of the
statue of Triloknath (Shiva Lord of Three Worlds) or
Avolokiteshvara as it is regarded by Buddhists. After paying
their obeisance, people go to the parikrama gallery between the
inner and outside walls of the temple. Pilgrims/ devotees usually
complete three or seven clockwise circumambulations of the
gallery/ rotating the prayer wheels and murmuring Mantras (OM
MANI PADME HUM) every morning and evening till they stay
there. Ghee and Mustard oil lamps are lighted continuously
inside. On the second morning, a traditional procession is taken
out, which is headed by the Thakur of Triloknath riding on a
decorated horse. Their destination is the place where as per
traditional lores, seven gods, and the youngest of whom was
Trilokinath had appeared from seven springs in the past. This is
the most important ritual of the fair. The procession then returns
to the fairground for more festivities. Some people for their
native places leave as soon as the procession disperses, while
others stay until the third day when the fair is over.

2. KEYLONG TRIBAL FAIRS AND FESTVALS: Keylong

Tribal Fair is popularly referred to as the Kumbh of the valley.
Corresponding with the Indian Independence day, the tribal fair
is held between 14th to 16th of August. It is organized at the
 police ground in Keylong; the present district headquarters of
Lahaul and Spiti. The cultural festival attracts not only people
from the region but also from across the country and abroad. It
has been recognized as a State level fair and is thus celebrated
with a great show. Apart from local artists, cultural troupes and
artists are also invited from Chamba, Dharamshala, Kullu, Leh
and Chandigarh to make it even more lively and vibrant.

3. TSHESHU FAIR: Tsheshu fair is celebrated in Shashur, Gemur,

Kyi, Kardang Tabo and Mane Monasteries in the months of
June. A large number of devotees/ people gather on these
occasions. Devil dance is performed by the Lamas bedecked in
colourful dresses and wearing masks of different birds and
animals.

4. LOSAR/ HALDA: A festival of lights known as Diwali is

celebrated all over India in October every year. A similar type of
festival is celebrated as Khogla in Pattan valley and Halda in
other valleys of Lahaul in the second and third week of January.
Pencil cedar branches are cut into strips and are tied together
into bundles to make a torch called Halda. In the evening at each
house, a Halda is lit and brought together at one central place.
This is repeated four to five times, each time in honour of
different deities. When the ceremony is over, the villagers return
to their houses. The haldas are prepared and lit in the same
manner and collected at one place where they burn to lashes.
Along with honouring the deities, the people of Gahar valley
curse the Ranas of clans hostile to their own. The people of
Keylong curse the Ranas of Goushal and Kardang threatening to
bite their hearts.

5. GOTHSI (GOCHI): There is a festival of the Bhaga valley

which is celebrated in February in the houses where a son was
 born during the preceding year. The villagers gather in the
morning. Dough is made of Sattu (roasted barley) and is placed
on a big plate which is lifted by four men to the place of the
village deity which is generally an idol of stone, a tree, or a
bush. A young girl dressed in her best clothes and decked with
ornaments accompanies them. The girl carries a pot of chhang
(A local drink) and is followed by two men, one carrying a
burning stick of pencil cedar and the other pencil their cedar
leaves tied together in lambskin. The woman giving birth to the
first son in the year, dressed in her best clothes accompanies
them to pay homage to the village god. Labdagpa the village
priest worships the deity with a bow and an arrow. The dough is
then broken and thrown away to appease the gods. The lambskin
is placed on a tree or a bush near the idol of the village deity and
is shot at by arrows. Lohars beat drums during the ceremony.
After the worship of the village deity is over, the people disperse
but the relatives and friends move into the group and visit all
their houses where male children are born. Drinking and
dancing go together, sometimes all through the nights

6. BUMKHOR: This is a religious festival connected with

agricultural activities. There is a belief that if religious books are
taken around the fields, a good harvest will follow. Thus, the
farmers carry religious books around their fields with lamas
leading the way and chanting religious scriptures. After the
ceremonies are over, the group assembles in the village, where
prayers are chanted. They are also served with food and chhang
(locally brewed barley beer).

7. FAGLI FESTIVAL: Locally referred to as Kus/ Kuns, Fagli is

an almost Himachali version of Thanksgiving. Various rituals of
the day also include the head couple of the family expressing
their gratitude towards their deities, elders and their cattle.
Celebrations in the later days also include an exchange of gifts
 among friends and relatives. The festival begins on the day of
Amawasya during the first or second week of February after a
fortnight of Khogla. Villagers in the Pattan Valley light oil
lamps and also decorate their houses for the occasion.
Additionally, a Baraza is set up; consisting of a 2-3 feet tall
bamboo stick mounted on the floor draped in a white chadar to
represent the angel of Shikhara- Appa. The angel in turn is
considered to be the grandmother of the peak and believed to
bring prosperity with her visit to a home. The festival is also
marked by the ritual of preparation of Totu and Kwari by the
eldest couple in the family earlier in the morning. While Totu is
distributed as Prasad among the family members; Kwari is later
thrown to the crows. The couple also goes on to pay their annual
respects to their cows and sheep acknowledging their
dependence on the cattle for survival.

8. LADARCHA FESTIVAL AND FAIR : Ladarcha festival (also

La Darch) or fair essentially helps in reinforcing bonds of trades
between Tibet and India, hosting traders from all over the world.
In yesterdays, this festival was celebrated in the Kibber Maidan
in Spiti, usually in August. Here, the traders would flock from
diverse regions of the hills, including Ladakh, Rampur, Busher,
for bartering their produce and artifacts. However, as the area is
witnessing the closure of Tibetan Traders, the new location for
the Ladarcha Fair is Kaza and is not celebrated in the 3rd week of
August. Depicting a confluence of cultures of nearby areas of
Kinnaur, Ladakh and of course Spiti; this fair has started
witnessing a lot of footfall from merchants of the Indian plains
as well, with artisans bringing about their prized produce for
sale and exchange.

The central focus for the travellers stays firm with the Melody
and Move exhibitions by performers of the Tibetan Institute of
Performing Art, Bhutan, Ladakh, Sikkim, Kinnaur, and Nepal.
Other highlights of the fair showcased include the Chaam and
Bhushan dance along with Buddhist sermons as well as archery
 competitions. Ladarcha fair celebrates the culture of the region
and provides an opportunity for all to understand the vibrancy of
life in Himachal Pradesh.

Things for sale range from the expected – jewellery, utensils,

gems, organic products, grains to the unexpected – animals
including yaks and unadulterated blood steeds.

9. GATAUR MELA: Every year, in the 4th week of September,

Gator is celebrated. The Lamas conduct the worship of God
Chaugayal succeeded by throwing saur into the fire while
performing the Chham dance.