Uttarkashi’s ‘Butter Holi’ from 16 Aug

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Uttarkashi’s ‘Butter Holi’ from 16 Aug
Our Staff Reporter
Dehradun, 31 July: With a picture postcard like setting, the Dayara Bugyal in district Uttarkashi has something special in store for tourists this month. The opportunity to play Holi with butter, milk and ‘Chacch’ (butter milk) on the lush green high altitude meadow is a once in a lifetime experience.
The ‘Dayara Paryatan Utsav Samiti’, based in village Raithal, is hosting the unique butter festival, locally known as ‘Anduri’, from 16 to 18 August. Besides the traditional Holi, cultural programmes will be organised to make it a memorable outing for visitors.
The festival is associated with the practice of villagers moving to higher altitudes during summer. For four long months, highlanders move with their cattle to high altitudes for pasture. When winter approachs and its time for them to leave the grasslands, the villagers celebrate ‘Anduri’ to express their gratitude to Mother Earth. It is their time to celebrate having had a safe and comfortable stay on the Bugyal. And, also, in the hope of getting more fodder next time.
Commenting on this, Chandan Singh Rana of village Raithal told Garhwal Post, “Lord Krishna worshipped the Goverdhan Parvat. In similar fashion, Anduri is celebrated at the Dayara Bugyal. The fair is a symbol of nature’s close association with man. It is celebrated to express gratitude to Mother Nature.”
This year, a group of young tourism professionals from Uttarkashi is promoting the Butter festival. This has brought a new zeal among Raithal villagers. Deependra Panwar, a local hotelier, says, “We are making an attempt to host the festival in an organised way. We will carry out internet publicity and also field a campaign in Dehradun, Mussoorie and Rishikesh to attract tourists.”
These tourism professionals will market the festival. The Raithal village and the group of tourism professionals will share whatever profits there are. The Butter festival package tour is of three days. During it, the visitors will dwell in tented accommodations.
Ajay Puri says, “This time we will market the fair to make it commercially viable. By this we will promote tourism as well as introduce our rich culture to the rest of the world.”
To create awareness about this unique festival, the publicity is all set to start soon.
Make your vacation a memorable one this time, participate in the Butter Festival.

For further details, contact:
Deependra Panwar- 9412984183
Ajay Puri: 9412077718


Reaching Dayara Bugyal
Bugyal in the local language means "high altitude meadow”. The road to Dayara Bugyal branches off near Bhatwari, a place on the Uttarkashi-Gangotri road about 28 kms from Uttarkashi.
Vehicles can go up to the village of Barsu, from where one has to trek a distance of about 8 kms to reach the Bugyal. The other route is via village Raithal, 10 kms from Bhatwari, from where one has to trek about 7 kms to Dayara Bugyal.
Situated at an elevation of about 3048 mts., this vast meadow is second to none in natural beauty. During winter, it provides excellent ski slopes over an area of 28 sq kms. The panoramic view of the Himalayas from here is breathtaking.

Garhwal Post
1 August , 2006
Dehradun

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For further details please contact:

Deepander Panwar
monal22270@rediffmail.com

Ajay Puri
shivlinga@rediffmail.com

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Uttarkashi's 'Butter Holi' on Aug 17
Raju/ HT Correspondent
Dehra Dun, August 13
Preparations are in full swing at village Raithal in district
Uttarkashi to celebrate 'Anduri Utsav' on coming 17 August. The hallmark of this festival is playing Holi with butter, milk and
butter-milk (Chacch) at a high altitude meadow, Dayara Bugyal. This is possibly the most unique Holi to be celebrated anywhere in India at an elevation of 3048 mts
Anduri Utsav (Butter Festival) is held every year in the month of August.
Chandan Singh Rana, a native of Raithal said, "Anduri is
celebrated to thank Lord Krishna for protecting the cattle from the evil forces while they were grazing in the open meadows of Dayara. It is also celebrated to mark the occasion of Lord Krishna's lifting the Govardhan Pravat to crush the ego of Indra (the rain God)."
The festival is associated with the practice of villagers moving to higher altitudes during summer. For four long months, Raithal villagers move with their cattle to high altitudes for pasture. When winter approaches and its time for them to leave the grasslands, the villagers celebrate 'Anduri' to express their gratitude to the Mother Earth.

People of the villages around Raithal travel to Dayara each carrying with him home made butter and butter milk.
A boy and girl are portrayed as Krishna and Radha. They visit all the Channies (Huts). The 'Channies' owners and the local villagers apply butter on Krishna and Radha seeking their blessings. Smearing butter or each other marks the festivity.

Hindustan Times
New Dehi edition (Late City)
August 14, 2006


Photo: Villagers playing Holi with Krishna and Radha to mark 'Anduri Utsav' in Uttarkashi (Photo credit: Mangesh Kumar)

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