On the riverbank in New Hyderabad, the hills have come to the plains, with drums, dance, mountain flavours and a festival atmosphere that runs until 11 PM every night.
LUCKNOW: The Uttarakhand Mahotsav has turned the Gomti riverfront behind Hanuman Setu into a small piece of the Himalayas. For 14 nights, from November 9 to 22, 2026, the festival fills the evening with festive lights and the sound of dholak and damau. It is free to enter and is held at the Pandit Govind Ballabh Pant Parvatiya Sanskriti Upvan on Birbal Sahni Marg. It is already drawing families, students and the city’s large Uttarakhand community.
The festival is held at the Pandit Govind Ballabh Pant Parvatiya Sanskriti Upvan on Birbal Sahni Marg. It is free to enter, and it is already drawing families, students and the city’s large Uttarakhand community.
Uttarakhand Mahotsav: A Spectacle of Colour and Rhythm
The centrepiece of the Uttarakhand Mahotsav is the grand Jhoda dance, in which more than 500 women in traditional Pahadi attire move in synchronised circles. The dance is rooted in the folk traditions of Uttarakhand, and at this scale it is a striking sight.
The Chholia sword dance brings a different energy. Performers in warrior costume, with swords and shields, re-enact martial traditions from the Kumaon hills. Alongside them, folk performances carry the stories, epics and daily rhythms of mountain life to audiences who may never have visited the Himalayas.
How to Visit
Dates: November 9 – November 22, 2026
Timings: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM daily
Entry: Free
Venue: Pandit Govind Ballabh Pant Parvatiya Sanskriti Upvan, Birbal Sahni Marg, New Hyderabad (behind Hanuman Setu)
Authentic Pahadi Flavours at Uttarakhand Mahotsav
The food stalls at the Uttarakhand Mahotsav offer flavours that are hard to find in the plains. Visitors can pick up organic Himalayan pulses, mandua (ragi) flour and fresh Pahadi vegetables brought from the hills, and eat mountain-style dishes served hot at the stalls.
The sweets are a draw of their own. Bal Mithai, the dark, fudge-like sweet coated in tiny white sugar balls, is a favourite, and Singori, a milk-based sweet traditionally wrapped in a leaf, is also on offer.Competitions and Community at Uttarakhand Mahotsav
Competitions and Community at Uttarakhand Mahotsav
The Uttarakhand Mahotsav is built around participation as much as performance:
- Voice of Uttarakhand, a talent hunt that gives young folk singers a stage and helps keep regional music alive.
- Pahadi Live Cooking, a contest of local culinary skills held at the venue.
- A T-10 cricket tournament and a Kavi Sammelan (poets’ gathering), which bring sport and verse into one programme and widen the audience across age groups.
Honouring excellence
This year’s Uttarakhand Gaurav Samman recognises two distinguished figures: folk singer Veena Tiwari, known for her contribution to Uttarakhand’s musical heritage, and scientist Dr. V.P. Dimri. Their honours reflect the festival’s aim to celebrate both culture and achievement.
A bridge between hills and plains
For the many Uttarakhandis who have made Lucknow their home, the Mahotsav is a reunion with the dialects, songs and dishes they grew up with. For other Lucknowites, it is an easy and free introduction to a culture only a few hundred kilometres north.
Tip: evenings are the liveliest time for performances but the stalls and food are open from late morning.
