Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati are venerated during the Harela festival, which is primarily observed in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand and some areas of Himachal Pradesh.
Harela is an annual Hindu festival observed on July 16 in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand. It is a celebration of peace, prosperity, greenery, and environmental preservation. It corresponds with the religious commemoration of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati’s wedding. Harela signifies the commencement of the rainy season (monsoon) and is viewed favourably by farmers because it marks the start of the sowing cycle in their fields. The inhabitants of the Kumaon region associate vegetation with prosperity. So, on Harela, individuals are encouraged to cultivate saplings to maintain the earth’s vegetation.
Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati are venerated during the Harela festival, which is primarily observed in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand and some areas of Himachal Pradesh. Harela, which translates to “Day of Green,” signifies the new harvest resulting from the rainfall season. It occurs during the month of Shravan on the Hindu calendar. Harela is known by multiple names in numerous locations. Mol-Sankranti or Rai-Sagrn is observed in some regions of Garhwal, Uttarakhand. It is known as Hariyali/Rihyali in the Kangra, Shimla, and Sirmour regions of Himachal Pradesh, and as Dakhrain in Jubbal and Kinnaur.
Ten days prior to the festival, the chief of each family plants five to seven varieties of seeds in bowls made of leaves or hill bamboo baskets and waters them daily. One day before Harela, people create and venerate Dikare or Dikars clay statues of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. On Harela, the sprouts of these sowed seeds begin to appear. Then, people celebrate the wedding of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati and request their blessings for the subsequent harvest season. And they prepare for the seed planting.
In Garhwal and Himachal Pradesh, villagers bring their village deity to an open field for communal prayer and celebration. In Garhwal, it is customary for individuals, families, and communities to plant saplings on Harela. And Harela is intended to connect individuals with nature and the environment. Since environmental preservation is ingrained in Uttarakhand’s culture, the annual planting of saplings on Harela is a significant step towards preserving the environment. It is also a means to honour what nature has bestowed upon humanity.
In Uttarakhand, there are two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Valley of Flowers National Park and Nanda Devi National Park.
The Jim Corbett National Park in the Nainital district of Uttarakhand was the first national park in India.
Uttarakhand was the first state in India to make Sanskrit an official second language.
The city of Rishikesh in the Uttarakhand district of Dehradun is known as the “Yoga Capital of the World.”
Two of India’s most revered rivers, the Ganga and Yamuna, emanate in Uttarakhand.
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | July 16 | Sunday |
| 2024 | July 16 | Tuesday |
| 2025 | July 16 | Wednesday |
| 2026 | July 16 | Thursday |
| 2027 | July 16 | Friday |
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