The traditional ‘Fagli’ festival was celebrated in Yangpa village of Kinnaur district, Himachal Pradesh. The festival is organised to observe the “victory of good over evil”. This festival is celebrated to mark the end of winter or the beginning of spring. It is celebrated in the entire valley on the moonless night or Amavasya. Men dressed in traditional attire with masks on their faces were seen dancing in circles while hundreds of locals also gathered to watch the event.The fair is is held in the month of Phagun and hence the name Phagli. The fair is held to show the struggle of supremacy between the god and demon, in which ultimately the god emerges victorious. This fair is also held to commemorate the event of killing the demon by god. A person wearing the mask and a grass tied with the help of strings all over the body acts as a demon and god is represented by GUR (god’s spokes man). Special dances ’Deo Khel’ and ’Raksh Khel’ are performed by these people with the rhythm of the drum-beats. The demon is ’Tundi Raksh’ who troubled people living from Manali to Archhandi. Manu Rishi with the help of Shandalya Rishi killed him. Phagli is held at Malana, Jana, Halan, Soil and in all temples of Jamlu.

Region : Pattan Valley, Lahaul