Dehradun, June 29 -- Deep in the scenic Aglar Valley of Tehri Garhwal, one of Uttarakhand's most unique traditional festivals, Maund Mela, continues to unite villages through culture, faith, and heritage. This year, the festival was hosted by eight villages, locally known as Athjula, of the Jaunpur region. These villages are Melgath, Kaandi Talla, Kaandi Malla, Sadab Talla, Sadab Malla, Bel Talla, Bel Malla, and Parogi.

On 27 June, more than 10,000 villagers and visitors gathered in a remarkable celebration along the Aglar River to take part in this centuries-old tradition.

Maund Mela has a rich history. The festival began in 1866 during the reign of Raja Bhawani Shah of the Tehri Garhwal Kingdom. The king officially granted the tribal ...