Lahaul-Spiti residents celebrate Halda for luck, abundant harvest

The Halda festival, a traditional celebration unique to the Lahaul-Spiti district, is being observed with great enthusiasm this month as residents from Gahar, Chandra and Pattan valleys come together to mark the occasion. The month-long festival, which begins in January each year, sees villagers singing, dancing and engaging in various rituals that have been passed down through generations.

The festival is particularly significant in the Pattan, Chandra and Gahar valleys. While the timing varies slightly, it generally takes place during the second and third week of January. The festival is marked by the preparation of a torch called Halda, made from pencil cedar branches, which are cut into strips and tied together in bundles. The number of torches created corresponds to the male members of each family. Once lit, the Halda is placed in the homes of villagers, where they gather to perform rituals and celebrate the occasion.

According to local residents, the purpose of the Halda festival is twofold — to seek blessings from local deities for a good harvest in the upcoming season and to ward off evil spirits from the village.

“It is a time when the entire village comes together, each family participating actively in the celebrations,” said Mohan Lal Relingpa, a Lahaul resident. In the Gahar valley, the date for the festival is fixed by a lama, while in the Pattan valley, it is celebrated on the day of Magh Purnima (full moon), he said.

The festival also features a unique ritual known as the Asur Dance, performed on the last day of the Halda festival in Khangsar village, located in the Chandra valley. According to local folklore, the dance originated in ancient times when demons would harm human settlements because they worshipped only goddesses. To protect the people, four villagers from Tinan Khangsar would don masks and dance like monsters, thus, ensuring the safety of the village. The dance continues to this day, with the final act taking place at the temple of Deity Nag Raj, where the ritual concludes with the worship of a deity.

Another resident, Ashok Rana, highlighted the importance of such festivals in preserving the region’s cultural heritage. “Even in the face of modern challenges, the residents of Lahaul and Spiti continue to celebrate their traditions, bringing the community together to overcome the hardships of winter, such as heavy snowfall and disruptions in power and water supply,” he said.

Lahaul and Spiti MLA Anuradha Rana also congratulated the residents on this occasion. She said, “The Halda festival not only strengthens cultural bonds but also serves as a reminder of the resilience and unity of the people of Lahaul and Spiti."