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Butter Festival Dayara Bugyal

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About

Uttarakhand is full of diversity and is known for its rich tradition and culture. Among its many festivals, there is one mainly celebrated in Uttarkashi District, called the Butter Festival. This festival is truly one of its kind, as local villagers and visitors play Holi but with butter and butter milk instead of colours. Isn't it unique!

Locally renowned as "Andhuri Utsav", the Butter Festival in Uttarkashi takes place during Bhado Sankranti, which generally falls in August, and is celebrated with great pomp and show. In 2025, the Uttarkashi Butter Festival will be celebrated on August 17 (Sunday) at Dayara Bugyal.

To seek the blessing of Mother Nature, locals and visitors celebrate this festival with great joy, where villagers are immersed in their rich traditions. During the celebration, the revered Lord Someshwar palanquin is also worshipped to maintain peace and harmony in the region.

Dayara Bugyal Butter Festival 2025

The festival is played on the sprawling meadows of Dayara Bugyal, which is located at a height of over 12,000 feet in Uttarkashi. The scenic backdrop of Dayara Bugyal creates an appealing atmosphere, which attracts people from far and near. Local villagers dressed in traditional attire dance to the beats of Dhol-Dhamau. People smear butter on each other, whose richness withered the atmosphere.

Amidst various types of Holi that are played in India, such as those played with colour (Gulal), flower petals, or sticks, like in Lathmar Holi, the Butter Holi of Uttarkashi stands out. Visitors can participate to experience and participate in this joyful Butter Festival, which is scheduled to be held on 17 August, at Dayara Bugyal.

Why Butter Festival celebrated?

The festival is celebrated to express gratitude to Mother Nature for providing green fodder for livestock. As the local villagers often take their animals to graze in the bugyals, which provide ample nourishment. Additionally, the festival is also celebrated to promote peace and harmony within the region and community.

How many visitors are allowed?

The Butter Festival is organised by the Dayara Bugyal Tourism Development Committee, Raithal. Since Dayara Bugyal is a reserved area, the High Court order of 2018 limits the number of visitors to 200 to protect the area. Seeking the cultural significance and importance of the festival, the organising committee in 2024 requested the high court to allow more visitors for just two days until the celebration lasts. As a result, around 2500 people witnessed this festival in 2024, and the number is expected to rise in 2025.

Accommodation Facility

Being a remote area, accommodation facilities are limited; however, you can find some accommodation options, mainly homestays. Visitors can stay at Bhatwari Village, which is around 10 km from Raithal, the base camp of the Dayara Bugyal Trek. Along with this, you can also find accommodation at the Dayara Bugyal trek starting point. Some popular nearby stays are: -

Raithal Homestay.
Dayara Resort.
GMVN Raithel.
Avtar Rana Homestay.
Dhani Nature Stay.
Akshat Homestay.
Garh Dayara Chhani Homestay.

Things required

Trekking Shoes.
Woollens.
Trek Pant.
Umbrella.
Powerbank.
Medicine.
Cash amount.

Important Tips for Travellers

Accommodation is limited, so prior booking is recommended.
The weather can be cold; it is recommended to carry enough woollens.
Trekking shoes and other gear are necessary for the trek.
A direct public transport facility is not available.
Carry rainwear and other required items during the visit.
Mobile network coverage in the region is limited.
Bring enough cash, as digital payment facilities may not be available due to poor network.

Nearby Attraction

After attending the Butter Festival, visitors can also explore some popular nearby attractions, such as: -
- Dodi Tal Lake.
- Barsu Village.
- Raithal Village.
- Harsil.

How To Reach

Distance	Dayara Bugyal is located in the Uttarkashi District of Uttarakhand, around 181 km from away from Dehradun Hill Bus Stand and 205 km from Rishikesh Bus Stand. Both Dehradun and Rishikesh are easily accessible by road, rail and air from Delhi.
Connectivity	Road: Both Dehradun and Rishikesh are well connected by road from Delhi, and daily roadways and private buses operate on this route. Rail: The nearest Railway station is Dehradun Railway Station, which is well connected with the national capital, Delhi, by trains such as Jan Shatabdi, Vande Bharat, Shatabdi and many others. Air: The nearest airport is Dehradun Jolly Grant Airport, located around 30 km from Dehradun ISBT and 16 km from Rishikesh. Visitors travelling by air may continue their journey from Rishikesh, as it is closer to the airport.
Journey from Dehradun/Rishikesh:	After reaching Dehradun or Rishikesh, you can continue your journey by road. For this, you can opt for a Roadway Bus, shared taxi, pr private cabs. It is to be noted that Uttarakhand Roadways buses and shared taxis do not provide direct bus service to Dayara Bugyal. To get there, you have to first travel to Uttarkashi, which is around 140 km from Dehradun and 162 km from Rishikesh. Both Dehradun and Rishikesh Bus Stand offer direct bus services to Uttarkashi. Alternatively, you can take a shared taxi from either city to Uttarkashi. Upon reaching Uttarkashi, you can take a shared taxi service to reach Raithal, which is the last motorable point en route to Dayara Bugyal. Dayara Bugyal is around 40 km from Uttarkashi and 19 km from Raithal. After reaching Raithal, undertake a trek of 19 km to reach Dayara Bugyal.

Q: When will the Uttarkashi Butter Festival be celebrated in 2025?
A: It will be celebrated on August 17, 2025.

Q: Where is the Butter Festival celebrated?
A: It will be celebrated in Dayara Bugyal, Uttarkashi

Q: How can I reach Dayara Bugyal to attend the Butter Festival?
A: Dayara Bugyal is not directly connected by road; you have to first reach its nearest motorable point called Raithal, and from there, you have to trek 19 km to Dayara Bugyal.

Q: How far is Dayara Bugyal from Uttarkashi?
A: Dayara Bugyal is around 40 km from Uttarkashi.

Q: How can I reach Uttarkashi to attend the Butter Festival?
A: Uttarkashi is easily accessible by Bus, taxi and cabs from Dehradun and Rishikesh.

Q: Do I need to register to attend the Butter Festival?
A: No, registration is not required to attend the Butter Festival.

Q: Who can participate in the Butter Festival?
A: Both local villagers and tourists can participate in the Butter Festival.

Q: By what other name is the Butter Festival known?
A: The Butter Festival is locally known as "Andhuri Utsav".