Credit: mysterioushimachal
Phulaich Festival
Kinnaur Valley is a beautiful place that is abundant with natural beauty. Sharing a border with Tibet on the east, it consists of the beautiful mountain ranges of Zanskar, the Great Himalayas, and Dhauladhar. Everyone who has visited Kinnaur knows about the famous Kinnaur Kailash Peak, but what is unknown to the people are the local festivals. Phulicah Festival is one such festival that is quite famous for its unique celebration of flowers that sprung up in the lush green valley of Kinnaur.
How Phulaich festival is Celebrated
Also known by the names Ookayand Festival and Ukyam Festival, where in the local language, Oo’ means ‘flowers’ while ‘Kayang’ means ‘festival’. The festival begins on the 16th day of Bhadrapada month. During this day, warriors from the Rajput clan go uphill to pick some flowers of their choice. They spent the next 17th day on the hill. On the night of the 18th, locals gather under the deodar trees, celebrating and dancing.
The main day of the festival is considered when the local men come up with the picked flowers. On the 20th day, a grand celebration takes place when deities from the surrounding region dressed in fine clothes and gold are brought out. Locals from all the villages dance all day for their respective villages under the trees. On the 23rd day, the respective deities are taken back to their place, and sacrifices of goat and lamb are made in honor of them.
How to Reach Kinnaur
By air
Shimla Airport, which is around 200–250 kilometers distant, is the closest airport.
By Train
The Shimla Railway Station, Summer Hill Railway Station, and Taradevi Railway Station are the closest train stations.
By Road
The Kinnaur district is well-connected via national highway 5