The word ‘hill’ in this case is derived from ‘hal,’ meaning plow and ‘jatra’ is used to signify a village festival. Hill Jatra is therefore a festival honouring the plow, held to ensure a good harvest. It is celebrated in Pithorogarh District of Uttarakhand.

The main character of the Hill Jatra is LakhiaBhuta. In mythology, Lakhia emerged from the locks of Shiva during the incident of Sati Bhasam (the immolation of Sati/Gauri, Siva’s consort). Lakhia is worshipped as a village deity in Kumour village in Pithoragarh District, the centre of this tradition. Besides LakhiaBhuta, a key character in a performance of Hill Jatra is a deer with wooden mask and a body of white cloth; the deer, too, is worshipped as a deity.