SAIR
This festival is celebrated to mark the end of the harvest of crops and to prepare for the long and harsh winter ahead.This time of the festival is also known for its belief that the god return from the earth to heaven at this time of the festival.
In this festival the rakhi thread are removed and offered to the mother sairi.
The centuries old sair festival is celebrated mainly in Kangra , Mandi , Kullu and solan districts every year in mid september.
What people do in Sair
During Sair , local people beat drums while offering their gathered yields to the Gods. It is believed that thusly , one could summon the energies of the Gods and look for endowments of mega crops in the following season. Additionally , local people have prophet meetings wherein they evade fiendish spirits for guaranteeing the flourishing of their respective families alongside the assurance of animals and yields from any spot of regular failure.
Sair in Kangra , Hamirpur , Bilaspur
On this day , the arrangements for the morning pooja initiate from the prior night.
In the pooja makings , individuals add in their harvest which by and large range from maize , guava , lemon alongside wheat.
The next morning , a barber from the town visits each house conveying the symbol of Sair Devi and the seasons gathering alongside some cash . All things considered , the barber is then barber is then given some of the seasons collection and some money as 'chadawa'
People also purchase many items like utensils , clothes and cook many scrumptions , dishes like dahi bhalla , kachori , meethi roti , gulgule , pakudu , kheer is also made in most of the houses.And many children also play " paise " on this festival.
Sair in Mandi
In Mandi individuals celebrate with purchasing and giving walnut to their friends and family , one can see the street sides brimming with merchants selling walnut in huge sacks. The traditions of playing with walnuts continues in the rural areas to this day.
Apart from this dishes like Siddu , Kachori , Chldu and Gulgule are made. Also their is a tradition of taking blessing from elders, it is called "Drub dena "in a local dialect.
Sair in Kullu
In Kullu , that very day , individuals celebrate what they call as 'Sairi - Sajja'. A night prior , lamb and rice feast is ready for supper and the following very day of celebration begins with exceptional cleaning and pooja of Kul Deity and preparation of halwa , which is then shared among the relatives.
For individuals of Kullu it is a period of festival at the beginning of Shravan month. It is a celebration of meeting and seeing family members who are welcomed with Joob - a green plant , more like grass.
Sair Fair in Solan And Shimla
On this day fair are held at different places and people participate in them enthusiastically. Drum are played and folk dances performed. On an average 50 bulls are gathered for the bubbly event.