H – HARELA

Welcome to the eighth day of the #BlogchatterA2Z challenge.

Harela means green which symbolizes prosperity especially for the farming community.

It falls thrice a year i.e. first in the Chaitra Navratras (Chaitra Month : March/April) just before the Bhitouli festival, Sharad Navratras (Ashwin Month : September/October) and in  Shravan Month ( Mid July).

Read more about Chaitra and Bhitouli here. (https://pashmeenachowdhary.home.blog/2020/04/03/c-chaitra-heralds-a-heartwarming-tradition/)

In the Shravan month which marks the beginning of the monsoon season. It commemorates the wedding of Lord Shiva and Parvati also. Small clay idols of Gauri, Maheshwar and Ganesha known as Dikare  are made for worshipping

In the Sharavan month Harela  a fair is also held in Bhimtal, Uttarakhand. This fair takes place every year from 16 July to 21 July. It is believed to be around 100 years or more. The origin of this fair  is believed to be from a farmer’s market where in olden times farmers got together to sell their wares. People from the hills would visit this fair to buy things that were brought by traders from far off places. It was also a place for some recreation.

The preparation for this festival starts ten days before. Seven or five types of seeds are sown in a container. These grains sowed in the soil symbolize future harvest. The festival is significant because it provides an opportunity to the farmers to test the quality of grains they intends to plant. These leaves are cut on the tenth day after the ceremonial worship and placed on the head and behind the ears. This is actually an agricultural based festival. They consider it auspicious as it marks the advent of the sowing season. It is a prayer for a prosperous sowing season and a good harvest.

It is also a day to celebrate and  socialize. Tree plantation is also done to celebrate it. Everyone is encouraged to plant trees as a practice to protect and preserve the environment.

Author’s Note:- Information and photographs have been widely sourced from various websites as well as my personal contacts.Please feel free to inform me of any misinformation or any violation.My email id pashmeenachowdhary@gmail.com

References for information and photographs credits :

• Websites:-         
  • www.wikipedia.com
  • Mrs. Ranjana Bisht
  • Google search engine results
  • Dr. Manisha Sanguri Jalal

# This is the eighth post for #BlogchatterA2Z challenge. My theme is Uttarakhand-The Abode of Gods .

# Do share your links for quick access…Would love to read…. See you around!!!!!