The word "Kumaon" is believed to have been derived from "Kurmanchal", which means land of the "Kurmavatar", the tortoise incarnation of Lord Vishnu − the preserver, according to Hindu mythology.

This hilly region of Uttarakhand shares a special relationship with literature, which is perhaps as old as literature itself. This strong bond between writers /poets and Uttarakhand exists even today, as there have been and still are many writers who belong to this place or have made it their home.

Therefore, it was only natural to name the festival after the hill region of Uttarakhand.