The idyllic and spellbinding beauty of Chopta has started to attract large number tourists from far off places. The majestic view of the snowy Himalayan peaks from the vantage of Chopta is not the only treat tourists receive at Chopta. The vibrant culture and traditions of Uttarakhand people also leaves visitors in awe. Some of the festivals celebrated in Uttarakhand have its own unique customs and rituals which make them stand out from the rest.
Dussehra is a popular festival that is celebrated all over the country. However, the Dussehra celebrations at Chopta are known for its vivid and enthusiastic celebrations. During Dussehra, fair is also held in the vicinity of the villages where people from nearby villages come to participate in the celebrations. It is followed by the festival of Diwali which is again a major festival in the region.
Paandav Leela is a famous enactment of the Mahabharata which is very famous in Uttarakhand. Every year, after the harvesting season is over, the villages in Uttarakhand congregate to stage a play based on the Mahabharata epic. Chopta too has its own version of Pandav Leela where elders as well as kids participate in the enactment. The vivid and vibrate nature of Pandav Leela is what makes it stand of from the rest of the festivals.
Situated just 4km from Chopta, Tungnath is one of five revered shrines in Uttarakhand dedicated to Lord Shiva. Collectively, they are known as Panch Kedar. Tungnath is also credited as the highest Shiva shrine in the world, perched at a staggering altitude of 3,800 meters. As such, the shrine is quite popular among Shiva devotees. Various religious festivals are also celebrated at Tungnath with great pomp and show.
Mahashivraatri is a revered festival that is celebrated across the lengths and breadths of the Indian subcontinent. Dedicated to the supreme Lord Shiva, this festival is observed by chanting prayers and hymns, fasting and meditating. Being a revered Shiva shrine, Mahashivraatri is also observed at Tungnath where devotees seek blessings from the Lord to relive then from darkness and ignorance. The festival occurs in the month of February/March (Phālguna), generally before the arrival of spring.
Being at a higher elevation, the Tungnath temple is closed for the winters as it snows heavily in that region. The temple is again reopened for the devotees when the winter recedes and the path to the temple becomes accessible As such, the opening and closing dates for the temple marks a significant occasions for the devotees. A grand aarti is performed on both the occasions by the temple preists.