The Kailash Valley Chaumos Festival, which started on December 7, ended with colorful ceremonies and traditional dances to mark the arrival of winter and the celebration of the New Year.
A large number of domestic and foreign tourists visited the valley to take part in it. The festival is held after the locals of the Kailash valley conclude their fieldwork and store their cheese, fruit, vegetables, and grains for the year.
Various rituals including Shishao, Bonfire, Savi Lek Har, Choi Nari, Mandahek, and Shara Berayak were performed in the festival by the residents of the three valleys of Kailash, Rambur, Bomburit, and Brier.
The most important part of the celebrations is setting up a big bonfire by burning logs of pine trees at a sacred place. Boys and girls carry small leaves in their hands, sing songs and perform various rituals around the fire. Moreover, fruits, vegetables, and dry fruits are also shared amongst the people to express their love for each other and convey the message of peace and unity.
The festival ends with Luakbak, a ritual where men, women, elders, and children of the Kailash tribe dress up in new clothes and dance and sing together to celebrate the new year and thank god for his blessings.
Many goats are sacrificed during this time too. The ritual is dedicated to the god Balmain, who is believed to visit from the mythical homeland of the Kalash, Tsyam, for the duration of the feast.
