What Is Raulane Festival, The 5,000-YO Himachali Tradition That Involves Masks And Mountain Spirits?

Far from crowds and commercial buzz, in high altitude villages of Himachal Pradesh’s Kinnaur, the Raulane Festival unfolds with quiet devotion. Celebrated in winter or early spring, the festival celebrates and honours the ancient mountain spirits believed to shield villagers during the brutal winter. Scroll on to know more about this rare tradition that has now caught the attention of the internet with its vibrant masked celebration.

What Is Raulane Festival Celebrated In Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh?

Not decades or centuries, but for more than 5,000 years, Raulane Festival has been celebrated by villages in Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh. It caught the attention of the nation when images from the celebration went viral on the internet recently. Now that the aesthetic spectacle of Himachal has caught everyone’s attention, we couldn’t help but dig deeper to understand more about this age-old mountain tradition.

While the snow-capped mountains may look breathtaking, the harsh winters can make life extremely difficult for people living in high-altitude villages. Yet the locals remain unafraid, as they believe they are protected by celestial fairies known as Saunis. According to local folklore, these guardian spirits leave their palaces during winter to watch over the frozen paths and keep the villagers safe.

Also Read: This Dog Explored An Untouched Waterfall In Himachal, And Now It’s Officially Named ‘Phiphi’s Fall’

Tradition & Celebrations

According to The Times of India, villages in Kinnaur celebrate the Raulane Festival to honour these mountain spirits and fairies. As part of the tradition, two men are selected to represent the spirits by acting as a symbolic bride and groom, locally known as Raulane and Raula. Villagers believe the pair serves as a link to the Sauni spirits, acting as their earthly representatives. The celebrations take place at the Nagin Narayan temple in Kapla.

Their faces are masked with heavy Kinnauri woollens, the special one that helps people at high altitudes to stay safe during extreme weather conditions. Not just the faces, but even their hands are covered with gloves. They are then adorned with heavy jewellery as they take part in the ceremonial marriage that forms the heart of the festival.

No Audience, Just The Festival’s Raw Essence

Villagers gather to watch as the pair dances a slow dance that looks mystical and mysterious. It is often considered a channel between the two worlds when heaven comes to earth. The festival, despite its elaborate and vivid masked celebrations, carries a sense of sacred simplicity. With no grand audience and no elaborate spectacle, Raulane remains a rare tradition that survives on community faith, folklore, and the valley’s deep connection with its natural guardians.

Also Read: From Rann Utsav To Hornbill: 12 Winter Festivals In India You Must Experience At Least Once

For the people of Kinnaur, these rituals are not performances but deeply rooted expressions of faith, identity, and gratitude toward the spirits. All in all, the Raulane Festival isn’t designed for tourists or spectacle, it is a long-standing testament to the unwavering devotion of the local communities.

Cover Image Courtesy: X/@GoHimachal_ & X/@TindaSingh_Ind