Fagli fest celebrated with fervour in Lahaul-Spiti

Himachal Pradesh Art and Culture

Fagli festival was celebrated with traditional fervour in Lahaul Spiti. The festival continued for two days in Pattan valley of the district.
According to the residents of Lahaul valley, this is a New Year festival preceding the beginning of Tibetan or Chinese calendar and is celebrated to mark the end of winter or the beginning of spring.
It is celebrated in February in the entire valley on the moonless night or Amavasya.
This festival was locally known as Kus or Kuns and is the most important festival in Pattan valley.
To mark the festivity about a two-feet bamboo stick is fixed on the floor and a white bedsheet is draped around it to signify an angel dressed in white. The figure called Baraza is embellished with jewellery and marigold flowers. The delicacies are placed before it, incense is burnt, oil lamps are lit and the house is fully decorated.
As per rituals, the family prepares totu or dough of roasted barley flour and buttermilk. Totu is offered to deities on the rooftop and then it is distributed among the family members. Then they pay their respects to cows and sheep while expressing gratitude.