The month-long tribal festival Boda Tyohar, also called Magho ko Tyohar, has begun in the Trans-Giri region of Sirmaur district in Himachal Pradesh. It is the biggest annual festival of the Hati tribe and is celebrated by more than three lakh people across 154 panchayats. The festival reflects the community’s social customs, religious practices and distinct tribal identity.
Festival Significance
Boda Tyohar is regarded as an important part of Hati cultural life. It begins on the eve of Posh Dwadashi and continues for nearly a month. The festival is observed in Sirmaur, parts of upper Shimla, Choupal tehsil, Kinnaur district and the Jaunsar Babar tribal belt of Uttarakhand. It is divided into three mini-festivals and is linked to ancestral traditions.
Rituals and Community Participation
The festival begins with offerings to village deities. Families prepare traditional dishes such as Pude, Bedoli, Patanday, Dhroti and Gudoli. Community members return to their native villages to join family celebrations. In many villages, the observance starts at the Sanjha Angan, where the temple of the village deity is located. In others, it begins at the temple of the Kul Devta, such as Shirgul Maharaj, Bijat Maharaj or Mahasu Maharaj.
Social and Cultural Features
The festival marks the role of women in Hati society. Brothers visit their married sisters with Saje ka Duna, while sisters also return to their parental homes during the month. On the eighth day, Khoda is celebrated with family gatherings and guest feasts. A cooked heart of a male goat is traditionally offered to a respected guest. After this, Boidoot begins, under which households host relatives and villagers for dinner at least once during the month.
Tribal Identity and Recognition
The Hati community had long demanded Scheduled Tribe status on the pattern of the Jaunsar Babar tribal belt. The community was granted Scheduled Tribe recognition through a constitutional amendment on 4 August 2023. The festival is seen as a living expression of the tribe’s primitive traits, collective memory and cultural continuity.
Last Modified: April 25, 2026