Summer Festival : It
is held every year in the month of May at Shimla.
It is variety cultural function with performance of local folks,
cultural program by school children and daily performance by
some famous personality. It is held on the famous ridge
ground.
Bharara Fair : This
fair is held in village Bharara near Kumharsain and people of
all castes and creed participate. The fair is held on the 1st of
Jaistha(May), It is being celebrated from ancient times. Devta
Koteshwar is brought in the fair and goats are sacrificed in its
honour as a mark of respect. The fair is cultural and
recreational and 'Natti' dances are performed. People also enjoy
'Hindola' ride.
Bhoj Fair : This
fair is held in village Guman in Rohru tehsil in the month of
November. for three days in honour of Devta Bansor, Parshu Ram
and Kilbaru. Devta Bansor is the presiding deity.Beside paying
homage to the deities 'Natti' dances are performed by the
people. The fair attracts a huge crowd.
Lavi Fair : Lavi
fair of Rampur is the most important fair of the district and
state. It is a commercial fair held on the 25th of Kartika
(November). It is said that the fair was related to the signing
of trade treaty between the erstwhile Bushahr State and Tibet..
The shepherds of Kinnaur migrate to warmer places before the on
set of winter and on their way they halt at Rampur. The woollen
goods,dry fruits and medicinal herbs brought by them are
purchased by the people and the traders of the plains and
foodgrains,clothes and utensils are sold. It is a very old fair
and entirely related to the sale and purchase of goods. 'Natti'
dances and cultural shows are the main attractions.
Mahasu Jatar : This
fair is celebrated at a place about 6 Kms from Shimla-Kotkhai
road near Mahasu village on the 3rd Tuesday in the month of
Baisakha(May) for two days. The fair is a very old one and is
held in front of the Durga Devi temple by a large gathering who
throng the place from the neighbouring areas. It is believed
that a Rana of Badoli lived in Chakroth near Mahasu. He had
built Durga temple there. After the abolition of his jagir the
Rana left the village and the vilagers of Mahasu constructed a
temple of Durga in their own village and to commemorate the
occasion they started the fair. 'Natti' dances and folk songs
are performed. Archery game is the main attraction of
entertainment. At the end of the fair a goat is sacrificed.
Pathar-Ka-Khel-Halog : This
fair is held in village Halog of tehsil Shimla. Halog was the
capital of erstwhile Dhami state. The fair is held on the second
day of Diwaliin
the month of Kartik(November). In ancient times human
sacrifice,it is said, used to be offered to goddess Kali every
year at the spot where the fair is now held. It is also said
that on this day the widow of a ruler of the state performed 'Satti'
and that before doing so she had ordered to make human sacrifice
henceforth. Human sacrifice was stopped after sometimes. Stone
throwing fight between two parties is the main attraction of the
fair and whatever blood oozes out from the wounds caused by
injuries on the bodies of the participants is collected and
offered to the Kali. Apart from the stone throwing game the 'hindola'
ride is also enjoyed.
Sipi Fair : This
fair is held every year in Sihpur below Mashobra on the 1st of
Jaistha(may) in honour of Sip Devta. It is very old fair and the
Rana of Koti used to be the chief visitor. Thousands of people
of the surrounding areas participate in the fair. A goat is
slaughtered in honour of the deity. Archery game is played
besides several cultural programmes, variety shows, 'Karyala',
Performance of the jugglers, magicians and acrobats provide
additional entertainment to the spectators.
Winter sports festival : Ice-skating
in Shimla is a big attraction for the sports-lovers during
winter. Shimla is the only place in Asia which
has the privilege of having a natural Ice-skating rink of the
kind and offers a popular pastime to the participants and on
lookers alike. Ice-skating normally begins in early December
and carries on to February. Clear skies and low temperatures
provide series of uninterrupted sessions. There are two sessions
every day, in the morning and in the evening depending upon the
frozen ice on the ground . The hanging baloon on the Municipal
Building adjacent to scandal point works as signal , whether
the skating is going to be held on that day or not.Membership is
available for the season as well as for shorter terms and even
for single sessions. Skates are available at the rink.Fancy
dress carnivals, 'gymkhanas' ice-hockey and dances enliven every
season.
Rohru Fair : This
fair is held in Rohru on the 9th and 10th of Baiskha (April) on
the banks of river Pabbar in honour of Devta Shikru. People of
nearby villages are the devotees of the Devta. It is very old
fair and is held to commemorate the supremacy of the deity. This
fair is also a commercial one and apart from the performance of
'Natti' dances and cultural activities,brisk trading is also
done. Men and Women costumed in their best attire participate in
the fair.
Click on the following
to know Shimla in detail
History
Climate
Adventure/Trekking
ReligiousPlaces
SiteNearby
Photo Gallery