Festival
Halda, Lahaul
When it happens
Held in the depth of winter, usually mid-January to February. The date is fixed for each village by the lamas according to the Tibetan lunar calendar, so neighbouring villages often celebrate on different days.
Halda is often called the Lahauli equivalent of Diwali, but it falls in the coldest, darkest part of the year. On the appointed evening each household makes a torch of dry cedar (deodar) wood; the men of the village then carry the lit torches in procession to a fixed place outside the village and set them down together in a single blaze.
The fire is dedicated to Shashkin, a form of the goddess associated with wealth and the Buddhist deity Vajravarahi, whose seat is regarded as the Gemur monastery. Feasting, chhang and visiting between houses follow over the next days.
Because each village's date is set separately by its lamas, Halda is spread across several weeks of the winter rather than being a single regional event.
Why it matters
Halda marks the new year for the Lahauli community and honours Shashkin/Vajravarahi. The communal fire, built from every household's torch, is a statement of the village acting as one at the hardest point of the year.
What to expect
Evening torch processions to the village fire-spot, feasting and chhang, and monastery observances — experienced as a guest rather than a spectacle. Lahaul in January is snowbound and largely closed to visitors; the Atal Tunnel road may be shut for days at a time.
Places nearby
Lunar dates shift every year and local programmes change — confirm the current year's dates with Himachal Pradesh Tourism or the district administration before you book travel.