About Kinnaur

Kinnaur-Himachal Pradesh Surrounded By The Tibet To The East, In The Northeast Corner Of Himachal Pradesh, About 235 Kms From Shimla Is A Tremendously Beautiful District Having The Three High Mountains Ranges i.e. Zanskar, Greater Himalayas And Dhauladhar, Enclosing Valleys Of Sutlej, Spiti, Baspa And Their Tributaries. All The Valleys Are Strikingly Beautiful. The Slopes Are Covered With Thick Wood, Orchards, Fields And Picturesque Hamlets. The Much Religious Shivlinga Lies At The Peak Of Kinner Kailash Mountain. The Beautiful District Was Opened For The Outsiders In 1989. The Old Hindustan-Tibet Road Passes Through The Kinnaur Valley Along The Bank Of River Sutlej And Finally Enters Tibet At Shipki La Pass And It Is Not Only The Scenic Beauty Which Appeals To The Young And Old Alike But Also The LifeStyles Of The People, Their Culture, Heritage, Customs And Traditions.

The Much Honest People Which Have Strong Culture And Beliefs Generally Follow The Buddhism And Hinduism Believe That The Pandavas Came And Resided In The Land While In The Exile. In The Ancient Mythology The People Of Kinnaur Were Known As Kinners, The Halfway Between Human And Gods. Thousands Years Old Monasteries Still Exist In The Area. Both The Buddhists And Hindus Live In Perfect Harmony Symbolising The Traditional Brotherhood And Friendship Of The People Of Both The Faiths.

The Apples, Chilgoza And Other Dry Fruits Are Grown Here Are World Famous. The High Terrain Here Give Way To Great Adventures Sports Of All Kinds. Beautiful Trekking Routes Includes The Parikarma Of Kinner Kailash Here Is Also The Beautiful Nako Lake And Three Famous Wild Life Sanctuaries.

 

FESTIVALS OF KINNAUR

SAZO Festival Is Observed In The Month Of January. On This Day The People Take Their Bath In The Natural Springs And Few Even Go To Satluj River For Bathing If They Happen To Live Near The River. Poltus, Rice, Pulses, Vegetables, Meat, Halva, Chilta And Pug Are The Principal Dishes Prepared On This Occasion. In The Morning The Family God Is Worshiped With The Food Except Meat. The Hearth Is Also Worshiped Near Noon Time, The Deity Is Brought Out And Worshiped With Wine And Halwa A Fold Dance Is Held. Thereafter The Deity Is Believed To Have Gone To Kinner Kailash.

PHAGUL or SUSKAR Festival Is Celebrated In The Month Of February/March. At Festival The Spirit Of Kanda (Peaks) Called Kali Is Mainly Worshipped, The Festivals Last About A Fortnight And Is Celebrated All Over Kinnaur. Each Day Of The Festival Is Called By Different Names & Several Peculiar Functions Are Held Each Day. On The Last Day A Feast Is Prepared And People Worship Kali On The Roof Of The Houses & Then Partake Of The Food. It Is Believed That After The Function And Festival Are Celebrated With Full Zeal Kali The Spirit Feels Happy & Blesses The Villagers With Prosperity & Plenty.

BAISAKHI Or BEESH Festival Is Celebrated In The Month Of April. The Villagers Prepare Food Like Poltu, Halwa And Keyshid On This Special Occasion. The Image Of The Goddess Is Brought Out Of The Temple With Respect And A Fair Is Held In The Santang. It Is An Occasion To Get Together And To Dance And Drink. This Festival Marks The End Of Winter Season Also. New Woollen Clothes Are Worn From The Wool Spun During The Winter. This Is Celebrated With Full Zest & Zeal By The Villagers.

DAKHRAINI Festival It Is Celebrated In The Month Of The July. The Deity Is Brought Out And Villagers Dance Before Her. Zongor And Loskar Flowers Are Brought From The Kand Peak And Their Garlands Are Offered To The Goddess. One Or Two Members From The Family Where Death Might Have Occurred Before This Festival Go To The Peak Of The Hill And Offer Some Eatables To The Shepherd. A White Flag On Which Some Buddhist Mantras Are Written Is Fixed There As A Sort Of Prayer Departed Soul.

FLAICH UKHAYANG Festival Of Flowers Celebrated In The Month Of September. This Festival Is Celebrated Through The Kinnaur District On Different Dates. Generally People Celebrate It On The Hill Peaks Near Their Villages. The Village Deity Led By Band Is Carried To The Place Of In Procession. One He-Goat Is Sacrificed. A Fair Is Held Throughout The Day. Flowers Of Shuloo Which Have Been Brought From Peaks For This Purpose Are Woven Into Garlands. At The End Of The Fair These Garlands Are Offered To The Deity. Immediately After That The People Accompany The Goddess To The Village Adorned With Flowers. The People Sing And Dance On The Return Journey.

LOSAR Festival Is Celebrated In The Month Of December To Welcome The New Year. On This Day, Preparation Of Barley And Butter Milk Is Taken By All The Family Members And They Put On Garlands Of Chilgoza Visits To The Neighbors And Friends Are Reciprocated And Greetings Of Losuma Tashi Meaning Happy New Year Are Exchanged. Two Or Three Days Before The Losar Festival Khepa Is Observed. On This Day It Is Customary To Fetch Small Branches Of A Thorny Bush & Place It On The Doors. It Is Meant To Ward Off Evil Spirits. On The Next Day These Thorny Twigs Are Removed And Thrown Far Away From The Village And A Feast Follows In The Night.