Raulane, the 5,000-year-old Himachal festival that even history can't explain

Raulane, the 5,000-year-old Himachal festival that even history can't explain

Raulane, a 5,000-year-old festival from Himachal Pradesh, blends mountain folklore, community rituals, and ancient Himalayan beliefs into a living tradition that survives without written history, carrying a cultural memory older than civilisation.

Masked men, merging of cosmic force, 5000-year-old Raulane tradition of Himachal

Highlights:Raulane is a 5,000-year-old Himachali festival with no documented origin. The ritual honours Sauni, mystical mountain guardian spirits of Kinnaur. Central figures include the Raula and Raulane, symbolic male roles masked to embody cosmic forces. A dramatic procession with masked protectors, the Zannpundulu, leads villagers to the Nagin Narayan temple. The festival’s trance-like dance is believed to send fairies back to the high meadow…

Raulane Festival Of Himachal Pradesh: Know Its Origins, Rituals And Ceremony...

The Raulane Festival is an ancient winter tradition celebrated in the Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh. Known for its spiritual depth and distinctive rituals, the festival reflects the region’s deep-rooted Himalayan beliefs and strong sense of community bonding. Origins of the Festival The Raulane tradition centres on the worship of celestial beings known as Saunis. These divine entities are believed to protect villagers during the harsh win…