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| HALDA
FESTIVAL |
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| Celebrated In
:
Lahaul District, Himachal Pradesh |
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| In the month
of :
January |
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| 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. |
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| Around the common calendar's New Year comes
Halda in Lahaul, which is a more private celebration of the event. |
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| 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'. |
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| 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. |
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