Harela: Difference between revisions

'''Harela''' is a [[Hindu]] festival celebrated basically in the [[Kumaon division|Kumaon]] region of [[Uttarakhand]] state of India and some regions of Himachal Pradesh. It is called Hariyali or Rihyali in the Kangra, Shimla, and Sirmour regions of Himachal Pradesh. It is called Dakhrain in the Jubbal and Kinnaur areas of Himachal Pradesh. In Himachal, people take their village deity to an open place, and sing and dance in front of the idol. It is celebrated thrice every year; the first two celebrations are during both the periods of [[Navrati]] – first during [[Navratri#Vasanta Navaratri|Chaitra Navrati]] in the month of [[Chaitra]], and second during [[Navratri#Sharad Navaratri|Sharad Navratri]] in the month of [[Ashwin]]. This is followed by ''Bhaitauli'' or ''Bhitauli'' wherein gifts are given to girls of the family.<ref name="Bisht2008">{{cite book|author=Ramesh Chandra Bisht|title=International Encyclopaedia of Himalayas (5 Vols. Set)|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aHnK8W5FwYoC&pg=PA247|year=2008|publisher=Mittal Publications|isbn=978-81-8324-265-3|page=247}}</ref> The Shravan Harela is celebrated as the first day (Kark [[Sankranti]]) of the [[Hindu calendar]] month of [[Sravan|Shravan]] (late July). It is also symbol for the onset of [[rainy season]] ([[Monsoon]]) as Harela literally means "Day of Green".<ref>{{cite book|title=Uttar Pradesh|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QpQhAQAAMAAJ|publisher=United Provinces of Agra and Oudh (India) Information Directorate|accessdate=18 July 2013|page=92|year=1964|volume=Volumes 22-23 }}</ref> [[Agriculture]]-based communities in the region consider it highly auspicious, as it marks the beginning on the [[sowing]] cycle in their fields. They pray for a good harvest and prosperity.<ref>{{cite book|title=Asian Agri-history|chapter=Harela: The Farm Festival of Uttaranchal|pages=221–224|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OBTbAAAAMAAJ|year=2005|publisher=Asian Agri-History Foundation}}</ref>  

The primary belief of the festival lies in the probable origins in Neo-lithic fertility festivals, which were marked as religious celebration of the wedding of [[Lord Shiva]] and Goddess [[Parvati]],<ref name="Agrawal2007">{{cite book|author=Dharma Pal Agrawal|title=The Indus civilization: an interdisciplinary perspective|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZmoMAQAAMAAJ|accessdate=18 July 2013|pages=213, 219|date=2007|publisher=Aryan Books International|isbn=978-81-7305-310-8}}</ref> The people make the clay statues of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati known as ''Dikare'' or ''Dikars,'' and worship them.<ref name="Agrawal2007"/> Harela symbolizes a new harvest of the rainy season every year.

==Festivities==

The celebration falls on the first day of Shravan. Ten days before the due date, 5 or 7 types of seeds are sown in buckets by the head of every family. Water is then sprinkled over them. After the due time, but before the actual celebration, mock wedding is done by young ones. Following which, people also worship the statues of Lord shiva and Goddess Parvati. The yellow leaves of the new harvest are cut, and worn in the ears. This is the symbol for the rainy season, and new harvest. People also eat the seeds of new harvest after heating them. People meet their relatives, and enjoy the festival. Some people also sow the seeds of new plants in the soil or fields, and join their hands in the form of 'Pranam' for saving the environment.

In Kumaon region of the State of Uttarakhand, India, the harvested herbs (also called by the same name, harela) are taken as God's blessings. Elders of the home put harela on the heads of others, touching the harela to their feet and body on way to the ears and head. A blessing verse is also chanted while putting harela.  

 

Harela has a great significance in Kumaon. This symbolizes a new harvest and the rainy season. It has become common practice to attribute a slogan of – "Save The Environment" to Harela. Schools in the Kumaun area often encourage their students to plant saplings, either at home, in the school or with the support of local officials.