Fairs and festivals of Himachal Pradesh | Himachal GK | HP Allied Services questions | HPSSSB examinations questions answers | Himachal Pradesh General Knowledge

Himachal Pradesh has numerous fairs and festivals and to Himachalis any opportunity for celebrations is welcome. All these colourful festivals and fairs provide healthy recreation and marketing places for the inhabitants.
Traders from far and near join these fairs to display articles like clothes, wool, pashmina, furs, leather, pottery, metalware, ornaments as well as other local products.

>> Important Fairs in Himachal Pradesh :
- Minjar Fair: Celebrated in the district of Chamba at a place 'Chaugan' in Chamba town. Minjar means Maize flowers. This fair starts on the second Sunday of 'Sawan' month (August).
- Kullu Dussehra: It begins on the Vijay Dashmi day in Kullu District and continues for seven days.
- Shivratri Fair: Celebrated in Mandi District during the month of February on Shivratri Day. This fair also lasts for seven days and artists from different parts of the country provide their performances.
- Naina Devi Fair: It is held at Naina Devi temple, Bilaspur in the month of August.
- Renuka Fair: It starts ten days after Diwali in the month of November and celebrations continue for six days. The fair is held at Renuka in Sirmaur District.
- Holi Fair: A very famous fair is held at Sujanpur Tira in District Hamirpur.
- Lavi: This fair is held at Rampur Bushahar in early November.
- Nalwari Fair: A very popular cattle fair held in Bilaspur District on the shore of Gobind Sagar Lake. The idea of this fair was conceived by W.Goldstein, the superintendent of Shimla Hills in 1889 A.D.
- Sui fair: This fair is exclusively for women and is celebrated in Chamba town during the month of April.
- Dal Fair: It is held at Dharamshala, Kangra in August.
- Sipi Fair: Celebrated in District Shimla near Mashobra.

>>  Important Festivals in Himachal Pradesh :
 - Baisakhi: Celebrated with zeal in all parts of the state every year on 13th April. It has other local names like Bisowa in Kangra, Bissu in Shimla, Lisshoo in Pangi-Chamba.
- Phulech: This festival is celebrated in the month of 'Bhadon' or at the beginning of 'Asauj' only in the Kinnaur region.
- Navratras: It is celebrated all over North India.
- Nawala: Gaddis of Kangra, Chamba and Mandi-Kullu celebrate this festival when a household individually collects enough money for the celebration.
- Sair: It is celebrated in the month of September in Himachal.