Today marks the official beginning of Sawan accompanied by the vibrant Harela festival celebrated across Uttarakhand. This traditional festival holds deep significance for the region's agriculture and culture, symbolising prosperity and overall well-being.
Harela is a significant Hindu festival observed in Uttarakhand and parts of Himachal Pradesh, particularly popular in the Kumaun region of Uttarakhand. Celebrated with immense enthusiasm, Harela signifies peace, prosperity, and the celebration of nature. This traditional festival holds deep cultural and environmental importance, symbolising prayers and hopes for abundant harvests and prosperity through divine blessings. It also commemorates the ceremonial union of Shiva and Parvati. Below, we delve into the festival's origins, significance, and cultural importance in Uttarakhand.
Harela 2024: Date And Origin
Harela 2024 is scheduled to be observed on July 16, 2024, marking the onset of the monsoon season, which holds great agricultural significance for the state. The term ‘Harela’ is derived from the Kumaoni word ‘Hariyala,’ meaning ‘Day of Green,’ and its origins are traced to the Kumaon region. In other regions such as Kangra, Shimla, Sirmour, and Jubbal and Kinnaur in Himachal Pradesh, the festival is known as Hariyali or Rihyali. During Harela, people pray for a fruitful harvest and overall prosperity.
According to Tour My India, leading up to the Sawan season, a sacred pot (dikori) is selected for sowing Harela seeds. Over nine days, seeds of wheat, barley, and other crops are nurtured with regular watering. On the tenth day, Harela is harvested, symbolising happiness and abundant agricultural yield.
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Harela 2024: Significance
The Harela festivities commence several days ahead of the main festival day. Families engage in cleaning and decorating their homes with greenery and flowers. Traditional dishes like Bhatt ki Churkani, Baadi, and Gulgula are prepared during this time. On the day of the festival, devotees wake early to offer prayers to Goddess Parvati and visit temples to seek blessings from deities like Lord Shiva and Lord Ganesha.
A significant ritual of the Harela festival involves planting barley or wheat seeds, which are watered daily until they sprout over a few days. These young plants are then harvested on the day of celebration and distributed among friends and family as a symbol of prosperity.
Beyond its cultural significance, Harela also promotes environmental conservation. A widespread tree plantation drive accompanies the festival, aimed at enhancing green cover and celebrating nature's blessings, particularly crucial for agriculture in mountainous regions, as reported by NDTV.
The timing of the festival coincides with Chaturmas, a period known for beneficial rainfall that supports mountain crops. Local beliefs hold that plants nurtured during Harela blossom abundantly, ensuring a prosperous and bountiful harvest.
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On the day of the festival, locals sing the following lines in the Kumaoni language:
“Ji raiya, jagi raiya, tisteya, panpiya,
Dub jaisi hari jad ho, byar jas phaiye,
Himalaya me hyun chan tak,
Ganhjyu me pani chhan tak,
Yo din or yo mas bhetne raiya.”
Translated, these lyrics convey:
"May you live long, be alert,
May this day of Harela come many times in your life,
May your lineage and family prosper like the harvested crop,
May your life expand like the earth,
May it grow tall like the sky,
May you remain on this earth until the snow on the Himalayas
And the sacred rivers Ganga and Yamuna flow from the Himalayas."
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Credits: Twitter
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