Uttarakhand is a beautiful place which can be sub-divided into two regions majorly known as Garhwal and Kumaon. The culture identifies its people uniquely and gives them a meaning. The various traditions, religions, fairs, festivals, folk dances, music are what distinctly separate them from the rest of the crowd. The residents of Uttarakhand are proud of the culture that they follow. The beauty of the state of Uttarakhand is that it houses people belonging to several sub-groups and ethnic groups together under one roof. This article talks about the culture, beliefs and traditions which bind the people of Uttarakhand together.
Some of the most delicious mouth-watering specialities of Uttarakhand include.
Urad Dal ke pakode which are spicy pakoras prepared from different pulses.
Phanu which too is made from dals, Jhangore ki kheer which is a sweet dish prepared with Jhangora.
Chainsoo which is made from black gram dal.
Bhang ki chutney which is sour tasting chutney prepared from roasted bhang and cumin seeds mixed with lemon juice.
- Garhwal Ka Fannah,
- Kafuli,
- Phaanu,
- Baadi,
- Ras,
- Bhatt Ki Churdkani,
- Arsa,
- Gulgula, etc.
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The dresses worn by people residing in an area depicts the culture and traditions followed by them and a fair idea about the kind of communities residing there. Uttarakhand is home to a variety of communities including Punjabis, Bengalis, Tibetan and Nepalis. Residents of Garhwal Hills have their own pattern of wearing clothes due to the cold weather of the place as a result of which, wool obtained from sheep or goat is used to prepare woollen clothes.
The ghagra choli is a unique costume of most of the states in North India which also includes Uttarakhand. This is a long skirt with a narrow waist that looks like an umbrella at the base. These skirts along with the top are called as Ghaghara choli which comes in vibrant colours and decorated with glittering mirrors. Usually the length of the skirt stops much before the ankle so that the accessory worn in the leg is visible. Ghaghra-Pichora is the traditional bridal attire where Ghaghara is the long skirt and Pichora is a Kumaoni veil or Rangwali, endowed with gold and silver tatting. The married women in Uttarkhand have sindoorismeared on their forehead and also a black beaded necklace. Hansuli is another ornament of status which is worn in gold by the rich and in silver by the poor. Muslin veils or Rangwalis which are in shades of yellow are part of Uttarakhand costume designing. The men of Uttarkhand usually wear dhoti or a pyjama as the lower garment and a kurta as the upper attire. The men love to present themselves with headgear, or turban, a part of their traditional costume.
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- Music:
- Garhwali Folk Music,
- Chhopati,
- Chounphula,
- Jhumeila,
- Basanti,
- Mangal,
- Puja Folk Songs, etc.
- Dance:
- Garhwali Dance Forms
- Langvir Nritya
- Barada Nati
- Pandav Nritya, etc.
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The spirit of gratitude is seen in abundance in the people of Uttarakhand, their fairs and festivals clearly display their thankful hearts and zeal to conserve the surroundings. In early days when the means of transport was scarce, relatives living far away from each other found fairs and festivals as an ideal opportunity to greet each other. In Uttarakhand, people welcome each season with a grateful heart and organize several large scale festivals around the state. Fairs and festivals in Uttarakhand are a way of life, the people of the state equally rejoice for small and big accomplishment, always paying respect to nature's abundance and nurturing the bond of unconditional love amongst each other.
- Kumbh Mela,
- Ardh Kumbh Mela,
- Devidhura Mela,
- Purnagiri Mela,
- Nanda Devi Mela,
- Gauchar Mela, etc.
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The people of Uttarakhand follow the ancestor spirit worship. They believe that by doing this kind of worship they wake up the Gods and the local deities from their inactive stage to solve their problems and shower their blessings. It is a traditional belief that that by doing this they get divine justice. The singer or Jagariya sings a ballad of the gods with allusions to the great epics like Mahabharata and Ramayana and which describes the adventures and exploits of the god being invoked. They follow age old customs and traditions for allsocialfunctions like new birth, marriage, death, etc. Shiva and Durga are the most important Gods of the people of Uttarakhand and many fairs and festivals are held in regard with the above mentioned Gods. People believe in ghosts, witches, etc., and tantra-mantra are used to cure disease and prevent calamities. Tantra-Mantra plays an important role in some customs which are executed at the places called 'Shiddhpith' and on the confluence of two rivers. At such times they sacrifice buffalos, goats and sheep to please the God or Goddess.
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The land of Uttarakhand is full of artisans and variety of art and craft. Both the rural and urban people indulge in producing/manufacturing some incredible crafts that are worth witnessing. Woodwork is a significant art form that the locals of Uttarakhand practise, apart from it, paintings from Garhwal School of Paintings and murals like Aipan demonstrate skills of the natives. The Ringaal Handicraft that is practised by a backward community named the same, is quite appreciable. The Rambaan Handicraft done by using Jute and Hemp also reflects the rich art and craft of Uttarakhand. Apart from it the woollen knitted wear and embroidered cushion covers, carpets, bedsheets and curtains by the rural women or urban women groups are a must buy from Uttarakhand. The candle making skills in the state are also at par excellence, there is an entire market in Nainital that is dedicated to this art.
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