Harela, the folk festival of Uttarakhand, is being celebrated with great pomp today in Uttarakhand. Uttarakhand is a state endowed with nature’s gifts. The beauty here is known only to the Gods and Goddesses around the world. That is why, Uttarakhand is also known as Dev Bhoomi.
In Kumaon division of Uttarakhand, the beginning of the Shravan month and the rainy season is considered green. Harela’s straw is offered to the presiding deity and wishes for good wealth, protection of milch animals and skill of family and friends. The tradition of Dekara Puja is also played on the first evening of Harele. Today, the Harela festival is being celebrated in Uttarakhand. And a lot of trees are being planted.
What happens in Harela festival?
In Kumaon, every year before the month of Sawan, the Harela festival starts. When you sow your traditional grains in soil in a pot or basket. These grains are sown exactly 10 days before the Harela festival in the month of Aashad. At this time grains of wheat, barley, maize, paddy, sesame are sown. Somewhere between 7 and 9 grains are also sown. In this way the productive capacity of seeds is also known. On the first evening from Harelay, Dekara i.e. Shri Harkali is worshiped. Small statues of Shiva, Parvati, Ganesh, Karthikeya etc. are prepared by taking pure soil from the courtyard of the house. They are often decorated with coloring. And they are worshiped. In Harela festival people also plant saplings around them.
Hill dishes are made from house to house on the Harela festival. Everyone gathers in the village temple and observes this festival with social harmony. Harela Lok Parva is celebrated in the districts of Almora, Nainital, Bageshwar, Champawat and Pithoragarh of Kumaon region for the change of seasons and prosperity of the blessed. On the day of Harela, a lot of enthusiasm was seen in these seven districts, while people planted trees in Uttarakhand today.
