Last updated August 6, 2026
Back to all festivalsUttarayani Mela
January (Makar Sankranti)7 days
A major fair marking the sun's transition to the northern hemisphere
Cultural Significance
Marks Makar Sankranti. Major fairs held at Bageshwar, Uttarkashi, and other places. Considered auspicious for holy baths.
Celebrations & Activities
- 1Holy bath in sacred rivers
- 2Large fairs and markets
- 3Cultural programs
- 4Traditional foods and sweets
Traditional Rituals
- •Devotees take a ritual dawn bath at the confluence of rivers, most notably at Bageshwar
- •Prayers are offered at riverside temples marking the sun's northward transit (Makar Sankranti)
- •Large fairs with folk music, local produce, and handicraft stalls run alongside the religious observances
Mythology
Uttarayani marks Makar Sankranti, the point in the Hindu calendar when the sun begins its six-month northward journey (uttarayan) — considered an auspicious transition across Hindu tradition, and one for which bathing at a sacred river confluence is held to be especially purifying.
Economic Impact
The mela at Bageshwar is one of Kumaon's largest annual fairs, drawing traders from across the region and functioning as a significant seasonal marketplace for woolens, handicrafts, and agricultural goods alongside its religious observances.
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