Around 130 km north of Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, Rampur annually celebrates the Phag festival to mark the advent of the Hindu New Year in the last week of the month of Phagun. In the tribal district of Lahaul and Spiti, the festival is known as ‘Fagli’, while in the Pattan valley, it is known as Kuns.
The 6-day long celebrations start with ‘Mandallai’ dance performed by farmers. They dance while wearing wooden masks, grass and flower crowns, as well as, long white cotton attire with falling yellow flowers, known as Mandali. Fourteen deities from five districts; Shimla, Kullu, Manali, Kinnaur and Lahaul and Spiti, take part in the fair that is celebrated with much devotion and cultural display.
The festival reportedly dates back to the 15th century when the king of the erstwhile Bushahr dynasty used to host a fair for the shepherds who would come annually to the gates of his palace. Chander Mohan Parsheera, a resident of Pattan valley, told The Tribune,
“To mark the festivity about 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, the incense is burnt, oil lamps are lit and the house is fully decorated.”
The ‘Mandallai’ dance continues the whole night and amidst the beat of drums and trumpets.
