As the monsoon begins its retreat and Himachal Pradesh\u2019s landscape is washed anew in lush greenery, the region prepares to celebrate one of its most meaningful and nature-centric festivals \u2014 Sair. Marked annually around September 16, this age-old tradition is far more than a cultural spectacle. According to Dr Tara Devi Sen, head of the Botany Department at Vallabh Government College, Mandi, Sair represents a deeply rooted connection between faith, health, environment and livelihood, making it one of the most holistic festivals in the region.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe culture of Himachal Pradesh is intertwined with nature,\u201d said Dr Tara, adding, \u201cSair is one of the finest expressions of this bond. It celebrates the end of the rainy season, the success of the harvest and expresses gratitude to deities and Mother Nature alike.\u201d<\/p>\n
Celebrated across regions with unique local flavours<\/p>\n
Observed with grandeur across districts such as Mandi, Kullu, Sirmaur, Shimla, Solan and Chamba, Sair not only reflects regional biodiversity but also celebrates it. Dr Tara noted that while the exact practices vary from place to place, the spirit of ecological respect and community gratitude remains constant.<\/p>\n
A major ritual involves offering the first grains of the harvest, including maize, barley, horse gram and buckwheat, along with a sacred bundle of 10 to 20 plants, many of which have been used in traditional medicine for centuries.<\/p>\n
Dr Tara categorised these plants into 3 groups: Medicinal plants: Achyranthes aspera (Apamarg), Leucas grass (Ko?ha), Datura, Tulsi, Hemp, Giloy, Castor, Amla and Goolar. Traditionally used to boost immunity, detoxify the body and treat various ailments, these plants still hold value in folk medicine and Ayurveda.<\/p>\n
Food and nutritional plants: Seasonal crops like barley, maize, rice, colocasia, cucumber, pumpkin, bottle gourd, guava and horse gram reflect natural nutrition and abundance.<\/p>\n
Cultural and symbolic plants: Sacred species like walnut, Peepal, Belpatra, Doob grass and Shami, not only carry religious importance but also symbolise harmony, wisdom and community strength.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese plants are not randomly selected,\u201d she explained. \u201cTheir medicinal, ecological and spiritual value is immense. Interestingly, their selection differs regionally, which reflects the biodiversity and cultural richness of different areas.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dr Tara highlighted the recent revival of Leucas lanata, a rare medicinal plant once on the brink of extinction. \u201cThis is the power of our traditions,\u201d she said. \u201cThey can protect biodiversity if practiced mindfully.\u201d<\/p>\n
Walnut exchange: A symbol of strength and connection<\/p>\n
One of the most unique and defining features of the Sair festival is the ritual exchange of walnuts, which are first offered to deities and then shared among family and friends.<\/p>\n
\u201cWalnuts are not just dry fruits,\u201d Dr Tara explained. \u201cThey are considered sacred symbols of wisdom, memory, strength and prosperity. Sharing them reinforces social bonds and carries nutritional benefits.\u201d<\/p>\n
In Mandi, also known as \u201cChhoti Kashi\u201d, the arrival of Sair transforms markets like Chauhata Bazaar and Seri Bazaar into bustling centres of trade. Dr Tara reported that traders and buyers from neighbouring districts like Chamba, Kullu, Hamirpur and even from Jammu and Kashmir flock to these markets.<\/p>\n
Walnuts, priced between Rs 300 to Rs 700 per kilogram based on quality, see trading worth lakhs of rupees within just a few days. For many local vendors, Sair is a vital economic opportunity, helping them earn a year\u2019s worth of income within a week.<\/p>\n
Adding to the charm and sustainability of the festival, rural women bring medicinal plants, either foraged from forests or cultivated specially, to sell in local markets. \u201cThis not only supports their livelihood,\u201d said Dr Tara, \u201cbut also keeps traditional plant knowledge alive. It creates a sustainable loop from forest to market to home\u201d.<\/p>\n
The festive spirit also permeates kitchens and dining spaces, as traditional dishes like bhallas, dahi bhallas, patrodu, pakoras, kachoris and sweets are lovingly prepared and shared among neighbors and relatives.\u201cFood is an important part of this festival. It reflects the values of community bonding, joy, and cultural continuity,\u201d Dr Tara remarked.<\/p>\n
A festival with a message for the modern world<\/p>\n
At its core, Sair is a festival that integrates faith with environmental consciousness, and tradition with modern relevance. \u201cOur ancestors did not just worship plants,\u201d Dr. Tara emphasised. \u201cThey revered them for their healing powers, nutritional value, and ecological role. Sadly, we have reduced them to mere symbols while neglecting their practical use.\u201d<\/p>\n
She warned that such neglect has contributed to the rise in lifestyle diseases, and urged people to reintroduce these plants into their daily lives\u2014not just in rituals, but in kitchens, home remedies, and wellness practices.<\/p>\n
Dr Tara concluded with a powerful message: \u201cSair is a call to return to our roots. It teaches us to express gratitude to nature, to maintain harmony with life, and to work toward sustainability for the future. In a world chasing modernity, this festival reminds us that tradition carries timeless wisdom.\u201d<\/p>\n
Deputy Commissioner Apoorv Devgan said this festival will be celebrated in Mandi district with great enthusiasm on Tuesday. For this occasion, he congratulated the people of district to preserve their rich culture and tradition.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"As the monsoon begins its retreat and Himachal Pradesh\u2019s landscape is washed anew in lush greenery, the region…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":141578,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[45],"tags":[102,6636,56,54,55],"class_list":{"0":"post-141577","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nutrition","8":"tag-health","9":"tag-nutrition","10":"tag-uk","11":"tag-united-kingdom","12":"tag-unitedkingdom"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/141577","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=141577"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/141577\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/141578"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=141577"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=141577"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=141577"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}