Wednesday, 10 August 2022 | PNS | Dehradun
The chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami would participate in the historic and famous Andudi butter festival at Dayara Bugyal ( high altitude alpine meadow) in Uttarkashi on August 17. Referred locally as Andudi Utsav, the festival is being held after a pandemic enforced gap of two years.
The president of Dayara festival tourism committee, Manoj Rana told media persons here on Tuesday that apart from CM Dhami, the Tourism minister Satpal Maharaj would also take part in the famous festival. He said that the villagers of Raithal village would celebrate the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsava in Dayara Bugyal this year by hoisting the national flag on August 15. He said that the Dayara Bugyal is located at an altitude of 11,000 feet above the sea level and is spread in an area of 28 square kilometres.
In the festival the villagers of Raithal village throw milk and butter milk on each other. They also smear butter on the faces of one another as a mark of their respect to Mother Nature for keeping their cows healthy. The villagers of Raithal shift to their Chhanis (huts) at Goi, Chilpada and Dayara with their cattle at the onset of summers. The cool climate, availability of nutritious grass and herbs has a positive impact on the health of the cows and their milk output also increases. The Andudi festival is organised by the villagers before their return to their village from the Bugyal on commencement of winter season. On the Sankranti of the month of Bhadrapada, the butter festival is celebrated by the villagers to offer their gratitude towards Mother Nature for protecting and providing nourishment to their cattle.
The village Panchayat of the Raithal village and the Dayara festival tourism committee have been promoting the festival for the last many years to attract tourists in the area. On Tuesday, the office bearers of the committee and the Gangotri MLA Suresh Chauhan met the CM and Tourism minister and invited them to attend the festival.
