Five Days of Faith, Food and Tradition Mark Diwali in Rajgarh
The five-day Diwali celebrations in the Rajgarh area of Giripar, Sirmaur, concluded on a festive note, bringing together age-old customs, local cuisine and community gatherings.
For five days, homes and villages came alive with the flavours, sounds and traditions of the hills. Families prepared local delicacies such as Mooda, Askali, Patande, Siddu, Kheer and Khichdi, while prayers were offered at temples dedicated to family and local deities for happiness, peace and prosperity.
Temples were decorated with rows of lamps, while villagers lit Dwaltha, traditionally associated with Baliraja. Several villages also organised Dev Jagran, where people stayed awake through the night singing bhajans and praises of the deities.
The celebrations were not limited to religious rituals. Bhajans, kirtans, humorous performances, dramas and traditional folk presentations such as Kariyala turned the festival into a lively community occasion, giving villagers a chance to come together and reconnect.
Senior residents Ranjeet Tomar, Lekhram Kashyap and Kushal Tomar said Diwali traditions in Rajgarh begin two days before Chhoti Diwali with the preparation of Madego, locally known as Mooda. The dish is prepared using grains and pulses, including black gram, kidney beans and wheat.
On Chhoti Diwali, families make traditional Askali, usually served with ghee, sugar or honey. Diwali day itself sees kitchens filled with the aroma of Patande, Kheer and other traditional preparations. In some villages, families continue the tradition of making Siddu, which is especially enjoyed with pure ghee.
The day after Diwali, Govardhan Puja has a special significance for farming families. Farmers worship their ploughs, ploughshares and other agricultural implements, while vehicles are also offered prayers. Khichdi is prepared and offered to the deities.
The festival ends with Bhai Dooj, which carries a distinctive tradition in the Giripar region. Married daughters’ husbands visit their mothers-in-law, offering walnuts, puffed rice and sweets. They seek their blessings by bowing at their feet, strengthening family ties that have been nurtured over generations.
For the people of Giripar, Diwali is therefore much more than lamps and sweets. It is a celebration of faith, traditional food, family bonds and a cultural heritage handed down from one generation to the next.
