Kinnaur’s Historic Raulane Festival Draws Thousands of Tourists and Bloggers

March 9, 2026

Kalpa: Kalpa village in Himachal Pradesh is witnessing an unprecedented influx of tourists, bloggers, and research scholars as the historic Raulane festival kicks off in the tribal district of Kinnaur. The crowd is so large that there is barely enough space to stand at the venue, creating challenges for performers and local residents.

Festival Beliefs and Rituals

The Raulane festival, celebrated over five days, is held in accordance with the orders of Goddess Chandika Mata.

Villagers clean their homes and perform daily pujas.

At the start, the Sawani, gods and goddesses from the Kande (high-altitude area), are worshipped.

The festival culminates with a farewell to the Sawani, accompanied by prayers to ensure happiness and prosperity in the village.

Traditional Dance and Costumes

The festival features men performing dances in traditional attire, often dressed as women. There are three main characters:

Raulane’s outfit: A Doru (Kinnauri shawl), a Choli (coat-like top), a Pattu (waist shawl), and a Gachchi (belt). Her headwear includes floral, local flowers like Chamka (white), Narkasang (yellow), and colorful cotton seeds called Bakhri Kan. The women of the Saring dress her and put on ancestral jewellery which are silver items named daglo, bithri, contai, and similar pieces passed down through families. These pieces link the ritual to long family histories.

Raula’s outfit: Thick Kinnauri wool garments, a red Gachchi or veil that covers his face, and a dagger called Rakas carried as protection against evil. His look is more reserved; the veil and full covering carry symbolic weight. Both cover their faces and wear gloves. There are multiple Raula’s and Raulane’s.

Villagers give two explanations for this: One says the fairies should not recognize the humans and carry them away, and another says covering shows humility in the presence of many holy spirits. Either way, the full covering makes the figures feel heavenly.

The dance begins at the Brahma Vishnu temple and concludes at Narayan Nagin Devi Ji temple, with Pundlu performing prayers both at the start and the farewell of Sawani.

Cultural Significance

The Raulane festival is deeply rooted in tribal spiritual and cultural traditions. It celebrates harmony between villagers and the spirits of Kande, ensuring prosperity, protection, and happiness. The festival is also a major attraction for cultural tourists and researchers seeking to explore Himachal Pradesh’s tribal heritage.