Dayara Bugyal plays host to a festival in which the villagers smear butter & throw milk and butter milk on each other
Tuesday, 19 July 2022 | PNS | Dehradun
After a two-year break caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the famous and historic butter festival would be organised this year at Dayara Bugyal ( high altitude alpine meadow) in Uttarkashi district. The villagers of Raithal have started preparations for this festival that will be held on August 16 and 17. Referred locally as Adooni Utsav, the festival attracts a large number of locals and tourists. Located at an altitude of more than 11,000 feet, Dayara Bugyal plays host to the butter festival in which 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 president of Dayara festival tourism committee Manoj Rana said that the historic butter festival is organised at Dayara Bugyal which is spread in an area of 28 square kilometres. He said that the villagers of Dayara 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. He said that the Adooni 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 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.
