Draft:Butter Festival (अढूडी ) at Dayara Bugyal uttrakhand

This high-altitude Butter Holi Festival of Dayara Bughyal, Uttarakhand, India is one of its kind in world .this butter festival is unique as it is celebrtaed with fanfare as villagers played ‘Holi’ by applying milk and butter instead of Gulal on each other. Dayara Bugyal is a grassland at a high elevation in Uttarkashi district, Uttarakhand. Dayara Bugyal – a lush green Alpine meadow at an altitude of around 3300 m. The word "Bugyal" in the local language refers to pasture land or meadows. The butter festival, called Anduri Utsav, is celebrated annually on Dayara Bughyal during the auspicious occasion of Sankranti. It usually takes place from August 15th to 20th, in year 2024, it will be held on August 16th.

Uttarakhand’s Butter Festival Rituals and Traditions

The Butter Festival is characterized by intricate rituals passed down through generations. It begins with a ceremonial procession where villagers in traditional attire gather at sacred sites within Dayara Bugyal. Flowers, grains, and butter are offered as a symbol of gratitude and purity, along with prayers and ceremonial fires to purify and bless the community.

Activities

1) Local dwellers dance to the beats of Pahari musical instruments called "Dhol-Damao".

2) locals offer their heartfelt gratitude to Bugyal Mata, the revered "Goddess of Meadow."

3) People smear butter and milk on each other's faces to celebrate the festival. During Holi, people gather and apply milk, ghee, curd, and butter on each other. After playing Holi for an hour, they worship nature and wish happiness for everyone. Local people say that this festival is celebrated to thank nature. Holi is played here with many products made from milk.

Role of Butter in Butter festival (Symbolism and Usage)

Butter plays a central role in the Butter Festival, symbolizing purity, prosperity, and abundance. Locally churned white colour butter, known as 'makhan,' holds sacred importance as it is believed to possess purifying qualities and is offered as a gesture of gratitude to the deities for their benevolence.

In this Uttarakhand's Butter Festival, everyone comes together and applies milk, ghee, curd and butter on each other and after playing Holi for an hour, people worship nature and wish happiness for everyone. Local people say that this festival is celebrated to thank nature. Holi is played here with various products made from milk. People here treat their animals like family cows is considered sacred; often people give her the status of a mother in Hindu religion.

The process of butter-making itself is imbued with ritualistic significance, involving traditional methods passed down through generations. Women in the community gather fresh milk from their livestock and churn it into butter using wooden churns or 'dairies,' a practice that not only sustains the festival's traditions but also reinforces the cultural identity of the local communities.

Conclusion

Uttarakhand's Butter Festival at Dayara Bugyal is a lively display of Uttarakhand's rich cultural heritage. It reflects the resilience and adaptability of its people in the modern world. The festival serves as a reminder of the deep-rooted traditions that have endured over time, while also showing the region's ability to evolve and thrive in the face of new challenges.

References

https://utsav.gov.in/view-event/butter-festival