Pithoragarh (Uttarakhand), Aug 24 (PTI) The historic ‘Hilljatra’ mask festival was celebrated on Monday in Kumaur village of the Soor Valley in Uttarakhand’s Pithoragarh district.
Addressing the festival virtually, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami described it as a unique cultural identity of Pithoragarh. He stated that it is not merely a religious event but a symbol of the state’s faith, beliefs, folk traditions, and the rich heritage of rural life.
He remarked that festivals like Hilljatra — which has been celebrated for over 500 years — serve as a powerful medium for carrying forward our cultural heritage from one generation to the next.
The chief minister noted that this festival connects the new generation to their roots, ancestral traditions, and folk culture; the arrival of ‘Lakhiya Bhoot’—an attendant of Lord Shiva—during the festival is considered a symbol of happiness, prosperity, and well-being.
Dhami mentioned that the state’s spiritual and cultural heritage is being revitalised through rejuvenation, conservation and beautification of ancient temples in the Manaskhand region, as well as the Haridwar-Rishikesh Ganga Corridor, Haripur Yamuna Corridor, Goljyu Corridor, Vivekananda Corridor, and Sharda Corridor.
On this occasion, he also announced the beautification of the Baba Gangnath temple located in Jakhni village of Pithoragarh.
Yashwant Singh Mahar, the organiser of the festival in Kunaur village, said, “Hiljatra is a festival of the Soor Valley linked to the tradition of paddy transplantation; it depicts the activities and conditions associated with the planting season through street performances.” While Hiljatra is celebrated in villages such as Dungri, Ravalgaon, Bajeti, Satgarh, and Majirkanda, the specific tradition of awakening ‘Lakhiya Bhoot’ is observed only in Kunaur village.
During the festival, masked performers enact various roles in the open ground, such as women transplanting paddy, three pairs of oxen ploughing the field and an elderly man smoking a hookah.
Mahar noted that ‘Hiljatra’ is influenced by ‘Indrajatra,’ a mask-based street festival from Nepal’s Kathmandu Valley. PTI DPT MPL AMJ AMJ
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