Fairs and Festivals in Manali

Fairs are the meant for social gathering when people from all over the region gather and exchange their feelings and ideas. Fairs are the best places where people of all caste and creed meet at one place have enjoyment through selling and buying, cultural programs and others. Throughout the year many fairs and festivals get organized in Manali.

Major Fairs and Festivals in Manali

Fairs and festivals in Manali not only attract the locals in great numbers but tourists from every corner of the country as well as from various parts of the globe gather at this beautiful hill station during festival time. In this article, you will get to know about the various fairs and festivals of Manali.

Hadimba Devi Fair

Hadimba Devi is worshipped by the locals in Manali so that they could have happy and prosperous life. Manali has a very old temple of Hadimba Devi Temple in the middle of famous nature park, Van Vihar. During the Hadimba Devi Fair, devotees gather here to offer their homage to Devi Hadimba. This festival is organized during the spring season when the entire valley is vibrant with colorful flowers blooming all around. Tourists get to enjoy the entire valley the best during this time.



During the festival, mantras are chanted and yagyas are performed. Local artists perform dances in their traditional dresses. Visiting Manali during this fair allows tourists to genuinely see and feel the culture of Manali.

Doongri Forest Festival

This festival is organized in near the Doongri Forest or Van Vihar. It is arranged by the women of the area. It is held during the months of May and June and tourists from all over the world come and attend this festival. The women dress themselves in colorful dresses and they perform dances in order to please the local deity especially the Goddess Hadimba whose temple is located within Van Vihar.

Winter Carnival

One of the most popular festivals of Manali is the Witner Carnival that is celebrated in the month of February. This festival attracts tourists from different parts of the nation as well as many overseas tourists come here to enjoy snow and various activities like skiing, skating and cultural programs held during the carnival.


This is the time when national and international ski competitions are held on the snow-covered slopes of Manali. Many base camps area also arranged during this time thereby many adventure enthusiasts visit Manali during Winter Carnival.

Lossar Festival Manali

This festival is celebrated in the 1st week of February. The festival is an important celebration for the tribal people of Himachal Pradesh and is also celebrated in the various Tibetan colonies of Manali and around. During the festival, the main attraction is the marriage of Lord Padamsambhava and a local princess. The festival marks the beginning of the New Year.



During this festival, different types of dances like Mask Dances, Chham Dance and dance-dramas are organized. People attending this festival will actually enjoy the culture and rituals of post-Buddhist Era.

Other Festivals of Manali

Like majority of Himachal Pradesh, festival like Baisakhi, Lohri, Holi, Diwali, Dussehra and Christmas are also celebrated with great pomp in Manali. During Lohri, a festival that gets celebrated in the middle of January, traditional dances are performed by the locals in their traditional attires. Bonfires are also arranged during the night.