The Sacred Mask Dance Festival of Lata village in Nanda Devi National Park INDIA

Plan a visit to experience the unique culture and mesmerizing landscape of  Nanda Devi National Park 

बिखोती कौथिग 

ग्राम लाता , मल्ला पैनखण्डा, जनपद चमोई,  उत्तराखंड,  भारत 

Mask Dance Festival at Lata village, Nanda Devi National Park, INDIA

Introduction: The sacred mask dance festival in Lata village is celebrated annually during the Hindu month of Baisakh. The term used in the Uttarakhand is Bikhoti (बिखोती) which is similar to the term Vaisakhi (IAST: visākhī), also known as Baisakhi, Vaishakhi, or Vasakhi celebrated every year during the month of April  (13-14) in India. Baisakhi is a post harvest festival and is also commemorated as the foundation day of the Khalsa Panth by Guru Gobind Singh Ji in the year 1699.  

Bikhoti in Uttarakhand: 

The festival of Bikhoti is celebrated in various forms in Uttarakhand region, mostly associated with  bathing in rivers and performing rituals. In the village of Saloor Dungra, also located in the Malla Painkhanda region of Chamoli, the Baisakhi is celebrated as Ramman festival which is dedicated to the village guardian deity of Bhumyal Devta. The Mask Dance is  a routine reenactment ritual is some of the villages of Malla Painkhanda such as Village Baragaon, Subhain and Suki. The villages suffered loss of their cultural artifacts during the past decades  as the traditional masks and other props of religious significance  were stolen, however, the practice is still continuing despite  the loss. 

The Mask Dance Festival of Lata. 

The Mask Dance festival in Lata is a 10 days long ritualistic ceremony. It starts with bringing the Goddess Nanda Devi to the village center Chopta. After initial ceremonies the various episodes start with first entry of more and murdi mask. 

Suppa Ceremony: All households present buck wheat  to the Goddess Nanda Devi

Narad Rishi episode on Genesis (how the world (shrishti)  was formed)

more (मोर )  episode

Episode of Lord Ganesha during the Mask Dance Festival in Lata, Nanda Devi National Park

Ishwar Raja aka Lord Shiva and Gaura episode

Latu and Lati entertaining the audience

Latu engages with audience

Lata village is the cultural capital of Malla Painkhanda region and a repository of traditional knowledge and cultural heritage.  Efforts are on to conserve and showcase the cultural heritage and traditional ecological knowledge of the Niti Valley area by designing interpretation trek to the Nanda Devi National Park. 

Book Now: Nanda Devi National Park Trek 2019

FACTS

Destination: Lata Kharak-Saini Kharak-Jhindidhar-Tolma
Age: 18years+
Duration: 6 days (from Haridwar)
Trek Strength: Low Volume (minimum10/max 15 pax)
Category: Moderate/Difficult
Inclusion: All services including stay, food, forest entry permits and camping charges after arrival on day 1 at Lata village till departure on day 6.
Exclusion: Transport pickup charges between Haridwar and Lata village. Baggage transfer charges if one desires to offload his rucksack during the trek.

Customized itinerary and pickup arrangements available

Available Dates: Between 29th April to 17 June 2019 

For details call  91-9720 633999