Halda fest celebrated in Lahaul-Spiti valleys.

Why in news?

• Traditional Halda festival was celebrated with great fervour in Lahaul-Spiti in which residents of the Gahar valley, Chandra valley and Pattan valley took part. The residents sang songs and danced together. These days entire region of Lahaul and Spiti is covered under thick blanket of snow.
• Halda festival started on January 13 at Gahar valley, which ended at Patan valley on January 17. In the rest of the villages in the district, the Halda festival will continue till the end of January.
• The residents said as Diwali was celebrated all over India, this festival was celebrated in Pattan, Chandra and Gahar valleys around the second and third week of January.
• “To celebrate the event, pencil cedar branches are cut into strips and tied together into bundles to make a torch called Halda. Halda is lit in a house where villagers gather to perform the rituals,” they said. The residents enjoy by celebrating the festival collectively in which each family of the village ensures active participation.