26

THE HIGH LAND FAIRS AND FESTIVALS

In all agricultural countries, especially where communication
is difficult, and where the land is cut by mountains or water,
the need is felt for periodical meetings at convenient centres,
where exchange and sale of commodities may take place.
The interior parts of Uttarakhand are absolutely dependent
on these occasional fairs and festivals for their supply of
common necessaries. These meeting places also provide ample
opportunity for the women to wear the best of their attire
and enjoy the dance sequences which take place either amongst
themselves or as provided by the Hurak and Hurkiyani. I
had ample opportunity to visit and participate in some of the
fairs of Uttarakhand out of which I would like to describe the
joyous moods of a few.
Uttareni—Bageshwar
The best known and largest fair of Kumaon is Uttareni held
at Bageshwar, each year around second week of January.
The town of Bageshwar is situated on the confluence of Saryu
iand Gomati, thus the junction of two rivers makes it an impor-
tant centre of pilgrimage. At the junction of the holy rivers
stands a large temple with its conical towers, better known as