Introduction
In the last few years, a festival of Himachal Pradesh has been going quite viral on the internet — Raulane Festival.
After watching its videos on social media, many people are calling it a game of fairies, while some people are considering it just a traditional dance.
But what is the truth?
Do fairies really descend in the mountains of Kinnaur?
Or is this a part of some ancient tradition of Himachal?
To know the truth, we have to go to a beautiful village Kalpa in the Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh. Here every year, immediately after Sangla Holi, Raulane Festival is celebrated.
This festival is not just a celebration. It is an ancient Himachali tradition connected with nature, deity traditions and farming which the people here have been following for centuries.
If you want to understand the authentic culture and mysterious traditions of Himachal, then Raulane Festival can be a very unique experience.
What Is Raulane Festival?
Raulane Festival is an ancient folk festival of Kinnaur which is celebrated in Kalpa and nearby villages.
This Raulane Festival especially starts 1–2 days after Sangla Holi and continues for about 5 days.
The main purpose of this festival is:
- to protect the village from evil forces
- to pray for a good harvest
- and to please the deities for the prosperity of the village
Raulane festival reflects the spiritual culture and local beliefs of Kinnaur.
History and Local Beliefs Behind Raulane Festival
According to the people of Kinnaur, there are some sacred places on the heights of the mountains above the village.
These are called “Kande” in the local language.
Here hidden deities reside which are called Sauni in the Kinnauri language.
Some people on the internet connect Sauni with fairies, but local people consider it a tradition of hidden deities.
This is the reason why every year Raulane Festival is celebrated to please Sauni, so that:
- no disease comes in the village
- the crops are good
- and no evil shadow falls on the village
This tradition has been going on for centuries and even today the people of Kinnaur follow it with great devotion.
The Beginning of the Festival – Suskar Parv
Raulane Festival begins with Suskar Parv.
This day is considered very important.
On this day:
- the people of the village invite Sauni to their homes
- worship and traditional rituals are performed
- and after that the main celebration of Raulane festival begins
Only after Suskar, preparation of Raula and Raulane starts.
Raula and Raulane – The Main Characters of the Festival
The most interesting part of Raulane festival is Raula and Raulane.
- Raula – male form
- Raulane – female form
But the most surprising thing is that both these characters are played by men.
From different parts of the village, small groups are formed which are called Saring.
Each group together prepares Raula and Raulane.
In one festival sometimes:
- 10–12
- or 13–14 pairs of Raula-Raulane
can also be seen.
Traditional Costumes and Jewelry
The entire village works together to decorate Raula and Raulane.
To decorate them, the following are used:
- traditional Kinnauri dress
- gold-silver jewelry
- traditional ornaments
Because of this their appearance looks very royal and traditional.
During the festival, these Raula and Raulane dance in the premises of Vishnu Temple and Narayan-Nagini Temple.
In the background, traditional Kinnauri musical instruments are played which make the whole atmosphere even more amazing.
Why Do Dancers Hide Their Faces?
One of the most mysterious things of Raulane festival is — Raula and Raulane never show their face.
Their identity is completely hidden.
According to local belief:
If their identity is revealed, then evil forces can affect the village.
Some people explain it like this that if the identity is revealed then Sauni can take away their peace and happiness.
This does not mean taking physically, but it is understood in the form of illness, sorrow or mental problems.
Because of this, in old times their identity was hidden very strictly.
Zannpundlu – The Masked Characters
Another interesting part of Raulane festival is Zannpundlu.
These are masked characters who play an important role in the festival, give messages and keep away evil forces and entertain people during Raulane.
People consider them just a joke but they are also main characters of Raulane.
Their role is:
- to invite people for dance
- to joke
- to give social messages
- and to make the atmosphere of the festival lively
According to local belief, Zannpundlu keep evil forces away from the village.
The Fifth Day – Sauni Ki Vidai
Raulane Festival continues for about 5 days, but the most important is the fifth day.
On this day a big worship is performed.
This ritual is called Sauni ki Vidai.
On this day:
- the whole village gathers
- prayers are made to the deity for happiness and prosperity
- blessings are asked for a good harvest
After the worship, the deity is also asked how the festival went and whether anything was lacking.
Only after that it is believed that Sauni has become pleased.
After this ritual, the people of the village go to the mountains and start farming work.
Why Raulane Festival Became Viral on the Internet
Nowadays videos of Raulane Festival are going very viral on social media.
Many people are presenting it as:
- dance of fairies
- mysterious ritual
- or supernatural event
But local people say that this is a sacred part of their culture, and they do not like wrong interpretation.
That is why to understand Raulane Festival, it is necessary to respect local traditions and beliefs.
How to Reach Kalpa (Kinnaur)
Shimla → Kufri → Narkanda → Rampur → Jeori → Wangtu → Karcham → Powari → Reckong Peo → Kalpa
If you want to see Raulane Festival then you have to reach Kalpa village, Kinnaur district.
By Air
Nearest airport:
Shimla Airport (Jubbarhatti)
By Train
Nearest railway station:
Shimla Railway Station
By Road
Kalpa is well connected by road:
- Shimla to Kalpa – approx 223 km
- Reckong Peo to Kalpa – approx 7- 8 km
Himachal Roadways and private taxis are easily available.
Best Time to Visit Raulane Festival
The exact time of Raulane festival is immediately after Sangla Holi.
Generally it is celebrated around March or April.
At this time:
- weather is cold and pleasant
- views of Kinnaur are very beautiful
- and cultural experience is the most authentic
Our Experience at Raulane Festival in Kalpa, Kinnaur
When we were roaming in Kinnaur, we came to know that a Raulane festival is happening in Kalpa village which is very famous, when we reached Kinnaur, the first thing that stopped us… was the view of Kinner Kailash mountain range. As soon as we reached Kalpa, in front the snow-covered high peaks of Kinner Kailash were looking so clear and magnificent that for a few moments the eyes just stopped there. This landscape of Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh is really difficult to describe in words.
After that we started walking in the streets of Kalpa village. This village felt exactly like traditional Himalayan villages of Himachal should be — calm, clean and settled in the middle of nature. Wooden houses, narrow village paths and in front the view of Himalaya… the atmosphere of Kalpa gives a different feel.
During Raulane Festival Kinnaur, the most interesting part was talking to locals and listening to the stories of this festival from them. The people of the village told us that Raulane Festival is not just a dance or celebration, but a part of their old deity tradition and faith connected with farming. They also told in detail about Sauni Devta, Suskar Parv and Raula-Raulane tradition.
One more interesting thing that we came to know from locals — that the people of the village are also happy with the increasing popularity of Raulane Festival on the internet. Because now many tourists come to see this festival during Kalpa and Kinnaur travel. This is giving opportunity of tourism and local business to many people.
Someone is running a homestay,
someone a small café or food stall,
and some people guide tourists about local culture and traditions.
But along with this, a responsibility also comes.
If you are going to see Raulane Festival in Kalpa, Kinnaur, then it is very important to take care of some basic things.
Nearby Attractions Around Kalpa & Reckong Peo
If you are going to see Raulane Festival in Kalpa, Kinnaur, then there are some other interesting places nearby which make the trip even more memorable. All these places are near Kalpa and Reckong Peo.
Buddha Statue – Reckong Peo
A very beautiful Buddha Statue is located in Reckong Peo town just a short distance from Kalpa which has become one of the main landmarks of Kinnaur.
From here the view of the whole valley is visible and in front the amazing scenery of Kinner Kailash range is seen.
Doing photography here at morning or sunset time is a very special experience.
Kothi Mata Temple
Kothi Mata Temple located at some distance from Kalpa is considered an ancient temple of Kinnaur.
Local people believe in the Goddess with great devotion and many religious festivals and rituals keep happening here.
The environment around the temple is very peaceful and traditional Kinnauri architecture is also seen.
Reckong Peo Market
If you want to see local culture and daily life then definitely visit Reckong Peo Market.
Here you will find:
- Traditional Kinnauri caps
- Woolen shawls
- Local dry fruits
- Tibetan handicrafts
This market is the main commercial hub of Kinnaur and is a very interesting place for tourists.
Suicide Point, Kalpa
About 3 km ahead from Kalpa there is a famous viewpoint which is called Suicide Point.
From here a breathtaking view of deep valleys and Himalayan mountains is seen.
This place is quite popular for adventure lovers and photographers.
Pooh Village
Pooh village located on NH-5 ahead of Kalpa is a historic and culturally rich village of Kinnaur.
This place is known for old trade routes and Tibetan influence.
The mountains and landscape around Pooh are considered one of the most unique scenery of Kinnaur.
Kalpa, Kinnaur – Location, Photos & Videos
YouTube: A new travel video is coming very soon—stay tuned for the full Shimla vlog on KKSB Vlogs
Instagram: Follow @official_kksb for the latest visuals, hidden places, and fresh updates before the video drops
What is Raulane Festival in Kinnaur?
Raulane Festival is a traditional festival of Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh which is celebrated after Sangla Holi in Kalpa and nearby villages.
When is Raulane Festival celebrated?
This festival usually starts 1–2 days after Sangla Holi and continues for about 5 days.
Who are Sauni in Kinnaur culture?
According to local beliefs of Kinnaur, Sauni are hidden deities who live in sacred places located on the heights of the mountains.
Why do Raulane dancers hide their faces?
According to traditional belief, if the identity of Raulane is revealed then evil forces can affect the village.
Where can tourists see Raulane Festival?
This festival is mainly celebrated in Kalpa village and some villages of Kinnaur.
