The Kumaoni calendar turns on its festivals — sowing and harvest, spring and new year, each with its own rituals, songs and foods.
The complete Kumaoni festival calendar for 2026–27 — Harela to Harela. Dates for Ghee Sankranti, Khatarua, Nanda Ashtami, Egaas Bagwal, Ghughutiya, Basant Panchami, Kumaoni Holi, Phool Dei and Bikhauti, with the Kumaoni month each falls in.
Harela 2026 was celebrated on 16 July; Harela 2027 falls on Saturday, 17 July. The meaning of the Harela parv of Uttarakhand — seeds sown ten days before, cut at dawn and placed on the family's foreheads — with rituals, songs and wishes.
Phool Dei 2027 falls on Monday, 15 March — Chaitra Sankranti. The spring flower festival of Uttarakhand (also Phooldei or Fuldei), when young girls bless every threshold with flowers, rice and jaggery to the chant Phool Dei Chamma Dei.
Kumaoni Holi 2027 culminates on 21–22 March, but the season starts in December. The Pahadi Holi of Uttarakhand — Baithki Holi sung indoors to classical ragas, Khari (Khadi) Holi sung standing in the street, and the long musical calendar between them.
Ghee Sankranti 2026 falls on Monday, 17 August — Singh Sankranti, the first day of Bhado. The one day of the year when every Kumaoni must eat ghee, the old Olgia gift-giving tradition, and the mid-monsoon meaning of the festival.
Nanda Ashtami 2026 falls on Saturday, 19 September — Bhadrapada Shukla Ashtami. The worship of Nanda Devi, the banana-stem idols of Nanda and Sunanda, the great melas of Almora and Nainital, and the goddess who belongs to both Kumaon and Garhwal.
Ghughutiya 2027 falls on Makar Sankranti, 14–15 January. Sweet dough birds fried and strung into necklaces, children calling the crows at dawn — kale kauva kale, ghughuti mala khale — and the great Uttarayani mela of Bageshwar.
Nanda Devi Mela 2026 runs around Nanda Ashtami on Saturday, 19 September. The Almora mela at the Chand kings' temple, the Nanda Devi Mahotsav of Nainital, the dola procession, and the smaller melas of Bhowali, Ranikhet, Kot and the Johar valley.
Khatarua 2026 falls on Thursday, 17 September — the first day of Asoj, when the monsoon ends. The evening bonfires, the cucumbers thrown into the flames, the cattle honoured, the Chand-dynasty victory behind the chant, and why the festival is fading.
Egaas Bagwal 2026 falls on Friday, 20 November — Kartik Shukla Ekadashi, eleven days after Diwali. The Budhi Diwali of the hills: the Bhailo fire-swinging, the cattle honoured, the arsa and singal, and the two legends behind a festival held eleven days late.
Bikhauti 2027 falls on Wednesday, 14 April — Vishuwat Sankranti, the Kumaoni solar new year. The sesame bath at the river confluences, and the Syalde Bikhauti mela at Dwarahat with its Oda Bhetna stone-striking that goes back to the Katyuri kings.
Looking for dates rather than a particular festival? The Kumaoni festival calendar 2026–27 lists the whole year in one table — Harela to Harela — with every date, the Kumaoni month it falls in, and the Aipan pattern drawn for each occasion.