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Introduction to Khepa Festival:
Himachal Pradesh the land of god has a variety of glorious things that combine to create an ineradicable impression on the hearts and minds of the travelers. The old and rich traditions, warm welcoming people, spectacular landscapes all grouped together with a good number of fairs and festivals in Himachal Pradesh draw sizable number of tourists from across the world every year. Graced with around 2000 local deities, Himachal Pradesh celebrates colorful fairs and festivals to pay honor to them. However, it does not imply that all the festivals and fairs are celebrated with a religious background. In fact there are some that are observed to mark seasonal-changes some to encourage water sports and some for business purposes as well. Whatever be the connotation the fairs and festivals of Himachal Pradesh hold the common thing that distinguishes them from others is the level of enthusiasm and participation they witness. Of those, Khepa, Himachal Pradesh is one that deserves special mention. It is an interesting event celebrated to chase demons away. The festival of Khepa in Himachal Pradesh is observed on a very large scale in Kinnaur region of Himachal Pradesh.
Description of Khepa Festival:
Khepa in Himachal Pradesh which is essentially an event to chase away demons is a very popular festival in Himachal Pradesh. The word Khepa stands for the meaning Siddha or say Tantrik Guru in Hindi. In Khepa, Himachal Pradesh the Siddha or the Tantrik Guru is made of flour. On the day of this festival, local people take bath early in the morning. They place a thorny shrub or say cho or Brekling on the top of their roofs. Later they make a 'Laffi' with turnips. Along with laffi, they make other delicacies too made of turnips and flour. However, there is other festival called Pulkhepa also. It is celebrated on the same patterns as Khepa, Himachal Pradesh. On the occasion of Pulkhepa in Himachal Pradesh a goat head and Poltu or say a special kind of fried bread is made. Later, the goat ears are hung on the prickly shrub along with Poltu and Sigre. These stuffs are kept at crossings and sometimes inside house as well. However, the goat horns are burnt to chase away demon.
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Indianholiday.com offers online information on Khepa and other fairs and festivals in Himachal Pradesh.
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