For all the enthusiastic (and novice) trekkers, Dayara Bugyal Trek Easily ticked off the bucketlist. One of the most beautiful alpine meadows in India, Dayara Bugyal (Bugyal means alpine meadow), is located in UttarakhandUttarkashi is accessible via a winding road from either Barsu or Raithal villages, located at an altitude of 10,000 ft. But exercise and panoramic views are not the only reasons we have in mind for this meadow today.

The visit to Dayara Bugyal makes it relatively popular among travellers, but there is another reason why you might want to consider visiting. Every year in August, Holi is celebrated here with butter! Villagers of Raithal, a small village 5 kms from this lush green Bugyal, worship the Goddess of Grass or Bugyal Mata, as she is locally revered, and celebrate Makhan Holi (also called Anduri Utsav) with pomp and gaiety.

Unlike the vivacity and exuberant revelry associated with traditional Holi celebrations in North India, the Butter Holi of Dayara Bugyal is a more intimate affair, imbued with gratitude and a sense of community. The villagers of Raithal, who take their cattle to graze in the virgin grasslands of Dayara Bugyal, believe that Lord Krishna and Bugyal Mata, keep a watchful eye on their cattle. Therefore, the festival is a way of expressing their gratitude to nature for the bountiful pasture lands that nourish their livestock. While earlier it was played with cow dung, over the years butter has been incorporated into the festival, signifying Lord Krishna’s fondness for butter, which they would steal even from neighbours’ houses.

This festival is celebrated every year on Bhadon Sankranti and is celebrated between 16th and 18th August every year. This year the festival date was 17th August. More than 500 villagers come to the Bugyal and celebrate the festival by smearing butter and buttermilk on each other. Locals from other villages join in and play dhol-damau and elaborate plays on the life of Lord Krishna are performed by the locals.

There was a time when Andhuri Holi was a quiet event, restricted to local villagers and shepherds. However, in the last few years, with the involvement of the local tourism department, it has emerged as an important celebration in the Garhwal Himalayas. A fair is also organised in the region, where the popular dahi-handi is celebrated in addition to traditional dance performances.

How to reach Dayara Bugyal?

The nearest airport is Jolly Grant Airport, 225 km away.

The nearest convenient railway station is Dehradun Railway Station, which is 91 km away.

The nearest major city is Uttarkashi which is 38 km away.

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