HALDA FESTIVAL

Celebrated In : Lahaul District, Himachal Pradesh In the month of : January

A cliché but often laced with snow-the year opens with a heady cocktail. Thousands of revelers head to celebrate the New Year at Shimla, Chail, Manali and Dalhousie.

Around the common calendar's New Year comes Halda in Lahaul, which is a more private celebration of the event.

Along the valleys of Chandra and Bhaga rivers, a few members of every household step out with lit cedar twigs to a west oriented place selected by the 'lamas'.

These slender branches form the first flames of a bonfire, which is then dispersed. Shiskar Apa, the goddess of wealth is worshipped, and the dancing continues for a couple of days.