Harela, a festival of happiness and prosperity, is basically a festival celebrated with gaiety in the Kumaon region of Devbhumi Uttarakhand state. Harela is celebrated on the occasion of Kark Sankranti arising due to the entry of the Sun from Gemini Zodiac Sign (मिथुन राशि) to Cancer Zodiac Sign (कर्क राशि) and is considered to be the arrival of Sawan month according to the Sankranti calendar.
To sow Harela, 5 or 7 types of seeds are sown by putting soil in a basket or spread pot, wheat, barley, paddy, gahat, maize, urad and mustard. In the absence of availability of these seeds, the urban devotees sow only wheat, barley and maize. These grown small plants are called Harela.
On the day of Kark Sankranti i.e. Harela, the sprouted plants of these sown grains are crowned by the members of the family, after which they are harvested by offering food.
According to the prevailing local traditions, Harela is kept/grown for 11 days, 10 days or 9 days, so according to your local tradition, food should be sown 11, 10 or 9 days before to cut Harela on the day of Kark Sankranti.
Like Harela, in Chaitra Navratri and Shardiya Navratri also, barley and wheat are sown with Mata's post for nine days under the same process.
Harela festival shows the awareness of Hindu beliefs towards environmental protection, the Government of Uttarakhand considers Harela as Environment Day at the state level.
| Related Name | Haryaav |
| Begins Tithi | Ashadha / Shravana (Kark Sankranti) |
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