The Doongri festival, celebrated in honour of Hidimba Devi, is held in which state?

The Doongri festival is celebrated every year at the Hidimba Devi Temple in Manali, in the Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh. It is held in May (around the month of Jyeshtha) and marks the birthday of Goddess Hidimba. The festival lasts for three days.

Hidimba (or Hadimba) is a character from the Mahabharata. According to the epic, she was the sister of the demon (rakshasa) Hidimb, who lived in the forest. When the Pandavas came to the forest during their exile, Bhima, the strongest of the Pandava brothers, killed Hidimb in a fight. Hidimba then married Bhima, and they had a son, Ghatotkacha, who later fought bravely for the Pandavas in the war of Kurukshetra. After Bhima left, Hidimba stayed in the region and devoted herself to meditation, and she is believed to have become a goddess. She is worshipped as a powerful local deity in the Kullu valley, and she is regarded as the family deity of the former rulers of Kullu.

The Hidimba Devi Temple, also known as the Doongri Temple, is located in a forest of tall deodar (cedar) trees in Old Manali. It was built in 1553 by Raja Bahadur Singh of Kullu around a cave where Hidimba is believed to have meditated. The temple is famous for its unique pagoda-style architecture, with a four-tiered roof and beautifully carved wooden doors and walls. During the Doongri festival, local people, dressed in traditional Kullu costumes, gather at the temple to offer prayers and to perform the Nati, the traditional folk dance of Himachal Pradesh, to the music of drums and pipes. Hidimba Devi also plays an important role in the Kullu Dussehra, as her palanquin must arrive before the celebrations can begin.

Why not the other options?

• ✗Uttarakhand is known for festivals such as Phool Dei and the Nanda Devi Raj Jat.
• ✗Sikkim is known for Buddhist festivals such as Saga Dawa.
• ✗Jammu and Kashmir is known for festivals such as Navreh and the Tulip Festival.