Dhauladhar Range – The Festivals/Rituals
Festivals such as Shivaratri, Navratri, and Dussehra are celebrated with much enthusiasm. The rituals often involve processions to mountain shrines and temples. During these festivals, locals offer prayers and perform ceremonies to seek the blessings of the deities residing in the mountains.
Festival/Ritual |
Celebration Time |
Significance |
Activities |
---|---|---|---|
Shivatri |
February/March |
Celebrates the marriage of Lord Shiva |
Special prayers, fasting, night-long vigils |
Navratri |
March/April, October |
Worship of Goddess Durga |
Nine days of fasting, prayers, and cultural events |
Dussehra |
October |
The victory of good over evil |
Ramlila performances, burning effigies of Ravana |
Losar |
Tibetan New Year |
Welcoming the New Year in the Tibetan calendar |
Prayers, rituals, traditional dances, feasting |
Tsechu |
Various dates |
Religious festivals in Tibetan Buddhism |
Masked dances (Cham dances), prayers, offerings |
Himachal Pradesh Statehood Day |
January 25 |
Commemorates the formation of Himachal Pradesh |
Cultural events, parades, exhibitions |
Dhauladhar Range
The Dhauladhar Range is a huge mountain range in northern India. It is also known as the Outer Himalayas or Lesser Himalayas. It rises from the Indian plains to the north of Kangra and Mandi. They begin near Dalhousie at the northwest end of Himachal Pradesh and pass through the state to the vicinity of the Beas River in the Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh. They end near Badrinath in Garhwal and lie almost entirely in Himachal Pradesh. The elevation of the range varies from 3,500m to nearly 6,000m.
Let us learn more about the Dhauladhar range.