Festivals and Fairs of Gangotri, Uttarkashi

Dedicated to Goddess Ganga and located in one of the seats of the spiritual hub in India, each auspicious festival in Gangotri is celebrated with great zeal and enthusiasm. You should consider yourself lucky in your life if you ever get to experience any of these festivals or fairs of Gangotri. The beliefs and cultures of the people residing in and around Gangotri are deeply rooted in their ancient traditions that are intertwined with spirituality. Each event is extremely colorful and has a history legend related to it that makes it extremely vibrant.

You should definitely try to make your Gangotri visit plans keeping in mind the dates of any fair or festival that may fall during that time. Here are a few festivals that are celebrated with the most enthusiasm:

Akshaya Tritiya

Considered to be one of the most awaited temple opening dates this holy day marks the change of the season for the year. This is also the time when the temple kapat of Gangotri opens for Darshan to the general pilgrims after staying closed for 6 months. This is also marked by the transfer of the idol of the presiding deity from her winter home in Mukhba (Harsil) to the main temple of Gangotri. In other parts of India this day is celebrated as ‘Akha Teej’ that commemorates the 6^th birth of Lord Shiva (Parashuram). People celebrating this festival marks the sacred day by decorating their homes with ghee Diyas and wearing Tilaks on their foreheads made out of Kum Kum and Haldi. The best part about this puja is the special Vedic Shlokas that are chanted during this time.

Ganga Dussehra

The festival generally takes place during onset of the summer months of April or May and this day marks the Dashami Tithi according to the Hindu calendar. This day marks the day the holy river of Ganga had made her way to earth to purify the souls of thousands of devotees and believers. The pilgrims offer their prayers specifically to Devi Gang this day and this bandwagon of celebrations carry on for 10 days at a stretch. The air reverbs with the enchanting music of dedicated to Ganga Devi and grand Aarti takes place where Diyas in leaf boats are floated in the clear river water. Pilgrims and devotees make it a point to take a dip in the holy waters of Ganga and almost the entire bank of Ganga from Gangotri to Haridwar is lighted up.

Kanwar Yatra

In mid-July, if you are a resident in Delhi / NCR or anywhere close to it, you will notice the pavements and sides of the roads gets swarming with kanwariyas or the people who go on a walking pilgrimage to Haridwar, Gangotri or Gaumukh. There are two most widely acclaimed stories regarding the mythology of Kawad Yatra:

This was the time when the holy Samudra Manthan took place before the ocean gave out Amrit and Lord Shiva had gulped down the poison, which settled in his throat giving him the name Neelkanth.

Another belief is that Ravan had brought Ganga jal with the help of a kawad and poured it on Shiva that helped him in relieving him from all the negative energy and the pain from poison.

Being home to the source of Gangajal Kawadiyas make their way to Gangotri to collect Gangajal and pour it all over the Shivling as a part of the ritual.

Diwali

source

Diwali in Gangotri is celebrated with great energy and unmatched enthusiasm along with the rest of India which also marks the onset of the winter months (end of October early November). However, another special reason for and incredible celebration is that the day next to Diwali marks the closing down day of the kapat of Gangotri dham and it is also the time when the idol of the presiding deity is shifted to her winter home in Mukhba village. The idol is accompanied with mesmerizing Vedic chants, dance, folk songs, devotional music and more! The entire ambience of this place is truly magical during this time.

Magh Mela

Celebrated as Makar Snakaranti in the rest of India, Magh Mela (also referred to as badahat ka tholu), as the name suggests this auspicious day marks the oncoming of the monsoon months in India. The entire region of Uttarkashi springs to life and the administration here organizes various events where different traders from Tibet take part in these fairs and exchange various goods. Devotees and pilgrims make it a point to take a holy dip in the waters of the Bhagirathi River which makes its way through the holy town. Local villagers carry dolis up to the banks of the holy river Ganga and some people also dress up as the Pandava brothers while others prays and dance around the whole procession.