You’ve probably played Holi with colours. But have you ever heard of one played with butter, milk, and chaach (buttermilk)? High in the mountains of Uttarakhand, Dayara Bugyal celebrates Anduri Utsav, also known as the Butter Festival, every August.
What began as a way for the locals to thank nature has now become a joyful celebration of their culture, traditions, and bond with the land. The meadows come alive with music, dance, and plenty of butter and chaach.
Planning to experience this unique festival? This guide covers everything you need to know, from its significance, venue, and dates to legends, how to reach, travel tips, and other important details.
So, let’s dive in!
What Is the Butter Festival?
Locally called Anduri Utsav, the Butter Festival is a homecoming celebration held by the villagers of Raithal, near Uttarkashi. Instead of colours, people smear each other’s faces with butter and buttermilk, dance to folk music, and put on cultural performances, all against the backdrop of the Dayara meadows.
Where in Uttarakhand?
The festival takes place on the slopes of Dayara Bugyal, an alpine meadow near Raithal village in Uttarkashi district, at an elevation of roughly 12,000 feet.
| Access Point | Distance from Raithal/Dayara |
| Jolly Grant Airport | ~225 km |
| Dehradun Railway Station | ~91 km |
| Uttarkashi (nearest city) | ~38 km |
Why It’s in News?
- It’s rare; there’s no other festival quite like it in India.
- It combines trekking with culture, so adventure travelers get a two-in-one experience.
- Social media has helped it travel far beyond Raithal, drawing curious trekkers and photographers.
- It offers something increasingly precious: an authentic, unfiltered local tradition, not staged for tourists.
Butter Festival Dates for 2026
The Butter Festival takes place during Bhado Sankranti in August. In 2026, locals are expected to celebrate it around August 16–18, following its usual timing in previous years.
How Do They Celebrate the Butter Festival?
The celebration begins with around 500 villagers gathering on the meadow, playing “Holi” with buttermilk instead of colour. Faces streaked with butter, they sing and dance to the beats of the Dhol-Damau, traditional Pahari instruments.
Children take centre stage too, performing costumed skits depicting Lord Krishna’s life. Folk dances like Jhora, Barada Nati, Thali Nritya, Chholiya, Langvir Nritya, Rasu Nritya, and the much-loved Pandava Nritya round out the celebrations.
Significance of the Butter Festival?
Every spring, once the snow melts, Raithal’s villagers move their cattle up to Dayara Bugyal, where the meadows are rich with grass and medicinal plants. The cattle stay there through summer, growing healthier and producing better milk.
During Bhadrapad (August–September), the villagers return to bring their livestock home. The Butter Festival marks this return, a way of thanking nature for keeping their cattle healthy and their livelihoods secure.
The Legends Associated with the Butter Festival
The festival is tied closely to local belief systems:
- Lord Somkareshwar, considered a form of Lord Shiva, is revered across several villages in the region, not just Raithal.
- Nature spirits (Achari): locals worship rivers, forests, and mountains as living protectors.
- Goddess Bhagvati, associated with Parvati, is worshipped for her nurturing and protective nature.
- Jeetu Bagadwal, a guardian deity believed to still watch over the village.
- Other regional deities like Bhairav Devta, Narsingh Devta, and Kshetrapal Devta are also honoured for protecting the community.
Rituals associated with the Butter Festival
- Homes are decorated, with pooris (fried bread) traditionally hung on doors.
- Guests were once welcomed with cow dung as a symbolic gesture; today, that’s been replaced with butter and buttermilk.
- Around Janmashtami, events like Dahi Handi are organised, adding another festive layer.
- Villagers invite friends and extended family, turning the day into a community-wide reunion.
How to Participate as a Traveler
- Plan your trip around mid-August, timing it with the Dayara Bugyal trek.
- Base yourself in Raithal, the starting point for both the trek and the festival.
- Join respectfully; this is a local tradition, not a tourist show, so follow the villagers’ lead.
- Wear old clothes that you don’t mind getting stained with butter!
How to Reach Dayara Bugyal
- Fly, take a train, or drive to Dehradun.
- From Dehradun, travel to Raithal village in Uttarkashi district.
- The Dayara Bugyal trek begins from Raithal itself.
- En route from Dehradun, you’ll pass through Mussoorie and a viewpoint called Tingling, worth a stop for the views.
- From Raithal, it’s a multi-day trek through oak forests and high meadows to reach Dayara Bugyal.
Suggested Read: Best Winter Treks in India You Must Try in 2026-27
Where to Stay
Raithal has basic homestays and guesthouses that serve as the base camp for the trek. Along the trail, trekking groups typically set up campsites at spots like Gui, Chilapada, and Nayata, so most of the trek involves camping under the stars.
What to Expect
- Sweeping views of Himalayan giants, Bandarpunch, Srikanth, Jaunli, Draupadi ka Danda, and glimpses of the Gangotri range.
- A moderate, beginner-friendly trek through oak forests and flower-strewn meadows.
- A lively, joyful festival atmosphere, music, dance, and a lot of butter.
- Warm hospitality from a community proud to share its traditions.
Why Witness It Once in a Lifetime
There’s no festival quite like this anywhere else: a Holi played not with colour but with butter, on a Himalayan meadow, by a community giving thanks to the land that sustains them. It’s raw, unscripted, and deeply rooted in gratitude rather than spectacle.
If you’re looking for a trek that hands you more than mountain views- one that hands you a story, a memory, and maybe a butter-smeared photo you’ll treasure forever, Dayara Bugyal’s Butter Festival deserves a spot on your list.
Book Your Dayara Bugyal Trek with JustWravel Today!
Frequently Asked Questions
The Butter Festival is celebrated at Dayara Bugyal, near Raithal village in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, at an altitude of roughly 12,000 feet.
Yes, the Dayara Bugyal Trek is generally accessible in August, when the meadows are green and the Butter Festival takes place. Check local conditions before planning.
The Butter Festival, or Anduri Utsav, is celebrated during Bhado Sankranti in August. In 2026, it is expected around August 16–18.
Anduri Utsav is a local festival in Dayara Bugyal where villagers celebrate their cattle’s return by playing Holi with butter and buttermilk while enjoying music and folk dances.
Yes, tourists can visit and experience the festival. However, respect local customs, participate only when invited, and remember that it is a community celebration, not a tourist show.
