Harela facts for kids
Harela is a special Hindu festival. It is celebrated in the Indian state of Uttarakhand and parts of Himachal Pradesh. People in the Kumaun region of Uttarakhand love this festival. They call it Harela (हरेला), which means "Day of Green."
In some parts of Garhwal, it's known as Mol-Sankranti (म्वोळ-संक्रांति) or Rai-Sagrān (रै-सग्रान). In Himachal Pradesh, it has names like Hariyali, Rihyali, or Dakhrain. This festival happens on the first day of the Shravan month in the Hindu calendar. It marks the start of the rainy season, also called the Monsoon. People pray for good harvests and a happy future. For farmers, Harela is very important. It signals the beginning of planting new seeds in their fields. Many fun fairs and gatherings are also held during this time.
What Harela Means
Harela is all about new beginnings and celebrating nature. It connects to ancient times when people honored the earth's ability to grow food. A main belief behind Harela is celebrating the wedding of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. This makes the festival a time of joy and blessings.
How Harela is Celebrated in Kumaun
Harela is very important in the Kumaun region. It represents new harvests and the arrival of the rainy season. Many people connect Harela with the idea of "Save The Environment." Schools in Uttarakhand often encourage students to plant young trees. They might plant them at home, at school, or with help from local leaders.
In Kumaun, Harela is also linked to two other celebrations called Navratri. These happen during the months of Chaitra and Ashwin. After these, there's a tradition called Bhaitauli or Bhitauli. During this time, families give gifts to the girls in their family.
The main Harela festival in Shravan is celebrated on the first day of the month. About ten days before, the head of each family plants five or seven types of seeds in a pot. They sprinkle water on these seeds every day. When the festival arrives, these seeds have grown into small green plants.
- Young people sometimes do a pretend wedding before the main celebration.
- People worship clay statues of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. These statues are called Dikare or Dikars.
- Children play a game called 'Gedi'. They ride on bamboo sticks and walk around the farms.
- The small green plants grown from the seeds are called 'harela'. Elders in the family gently touch these plants to the heads and feet of others. They also say a blessing verse. This symbolizes good luck for the rainy season and the new harvest.
- People sometimes eat the seeds from the new harvest after heating them.
- Families visit their relatives and enjoy the festival together.
- Some people plant new seeds in the soil or fields. They join their hands in a 'Pranam' gesture to show respect for nature.
Harela in Garhwal and Himachal Pradesh
In Garhwal and Himachal, people celebrate Harela differently. They often take their village's special deity (a god or goddess) to an open area. There, they sing and dance in front of the idol. Before the monsoon starts, all the Dev-Dolis (palanquins carrying deities) return to their home villages. This is followed by celebrations.
In Garhwal, it's a tradition to plant young trees on this day. This can be done by one person, a family, or the whole community. Harela is usually celebrated around July 16th. This day marks the beginning of the Shravan Maas, which is the start of the rainy season.
