HARELA FESTIVAL

Harela is a Hindu festival held mostly in the Kumaon district of the Indian state of Uttarakhand and in
some areas of Himachal Pradesh. Hariyali or Rihyali is the name given to it in the Himachal Pradesh
districts of Kangra, Shimla, and Sirmour. It is known as Dakhrain in the Himachal Pradesh districts of
Jubbal and Kinnaur. People in Himachal bring their village deity to an open space and sing and dance in
front of the idol. It is celebrated three times a year, the first two times during both Navrati cycles – first
during Chaitra Navrati in the month of Chaitra, and then during Sharad Navratri in the month of Ashwin.

The festival's primary belief is that it has its roots in Neolithic fertility festivities, which were marked as
religious celebrations of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati's marriage. People worship the clay sculptures
of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati known as Dikare or Dikars. Per year, Harela represents a fresh crop
from the rainy season.

The festival takes place on the first day of Shravan. Any family's head sows 5 or 7 different varieties of
seeds in buckets ten days before the due date. They are then sprinkled with water. Young people
perform a mock wedding at the appropriate time, but before the formal ceremony. Following that,
people worship Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati idols. The new harvest's yellow leaves are cut and worn
in the face. This is the rainy season's and new harvest's sign. People often consume fresh harvest seeds
after heating them. People get together with their families and enjoy the festival. 

Some people often sow new plant seeds in the soil or fields and tie their hands in the shape of 'Pranam'
to save the earth.

The cultivated herbs (also known as harela) are considered God's blessings in the Kumaon region of the
Indian state of Uttarakhand. Elders of the home put harela on the heads of others, starting with their
feet and moving up to their ears and head. When applying harela, a blessing verse is also chanted.

Harela is very important in Kumaon. This represents a fresh crop as well as the rainy season. It has
become standard practice to attribute Harela with the motto "Save The Environment." Schools in the
Kumaun region often urge students to plant saplings, either at home, at school, or with the assistance of
local officials.

Harela Mela is an annual fair that takes place from July 16 to July 21 on the RamLeela Ground in Bhimtal.
The Harela Mela commemorates the historical Kumaon festival of Harela in the state of Uttarakhand.

Harela simply translates to "Green/Yellow Leaves." There are usually two Harelas in a year, one in the
Hindu Calendar's Chaitra month (March / April in the Gregorian Calendar) and one in the Hindu
Calendar's Shravan month (July / August in the Gregorian Calendar), referring to the change of seasons.
The Harela Mela, on the other hand, is conducted as part of the Shravan festivities, which also coincide
with the start of the monsoon season in India and represent the crop growing season. According to local
legend, the festival also commemorates Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati's marriage.

The Harela Mela has been going on for over a century. The Harela Mela may have begun as an extension
of a farmer's market during the harvest season. Prior to Indian independence, merchants flew crops and
other wares from distant locations such as Bareilly, Rampur, and others to the hills of Kumaon to
market. People from the Kumaon hills would gather to buy these goods, which evolved into the Harela
Mela. The Mela was previously held in the city center on the ground near Lilavati Pant College, but due
to inadequate accommodation, it was relocated to its current location on the RamLeela ground in 1980. 

Prior to 2013, the fair was a two-day event organized by the Harela Khel Sanskritik Manch, but due to its
growing success, it was taken over by the town municipal corporation and expanded to a five-day event.