Uttarakhand Culture
Uttarakhand Culture has every distinct color to attract people from all over the world to its beautiful land. Different interesting elements like the ethnic groups, cultural diversity, food, dressing, folk dance, music, songs, and festivals constitutes the culture of Uttarakhand.
The cultural heritage and tradition followed in the state of Uttarakhand is loaded with eye-catching attributes that pulls the attention from all over world. Lively art pieces are created here by the expert craftsmen of the region.
Uttarakhand stands at par with other Indian states in terms of its excellent cultural heritage and tradition. It is the center where several Vedas and Hindu Shastras straight from ancient times. This has in turn contributed towards the regional people’s love for education and learning. It is the educational hub for many big-name educational institutes. Some popular educational hubs located here are Indian Institute of Technology at Roorkee, G. B. Pant University in Pantnagar, Kumaun University, and Garhwal School of painting.
Almost every ethnic groups and sub-groups that resides in Uttarakhand has a distinctive pattern of culture to be proud of. It would be apt to state that the culture of Uttarakhand is a perfect blend of different Kumaoni-Garhwal culture.
Most accepted ethnic groups offering rich cultural heritage in Uttarakhand are Jaunsari, Bhotia, Tharu, Raji, and Buksha. Together they form as many as seven different ethnic groups.
People of Uttarakhand are referred to as Garhwali, Kumaoni, or Paharis. Majority of Uttarakhand people are upper class Hindus. They form a major part of the culture followed in the state. Languages spoken by the people of Uttarakhand include Hindi, Kumaoni, Garhwali, Jaunsari, and Bhotiya. Apart from these main languages, there are several other local dialects spoken in this state. Food in Uttarakhand is known for its liking among the locals. Most known food items in the palate are Bhatt Ki Churdkani, Kafuli, Phaanu, Baadi, Ras, Arsa, Garhwal Ka Fannah, and Gulgula.
Important cultural festivals and fairs include Purnagiri Mela, Kumbh Mela, Devidhura Mela, Nanda Devi Mela, Ardh Kumbh Mela, and Gauchar Mela.
Uttarakhand music is known for its Garhwali Folk Music, Basanti, Mangal, Chounphula, Jhumeila, Chhopati, and Puja Folk Songs. Popular dance forms are Garhwali Dance, Barada Nati, Pandav Nritya, and Langvir Nritya.
Uttarakhand portrays different cultures under a single domain. The rich culture of the region is evident in its numerous temples spread across its region. Being a home of temples and places of pilgrimage, Uttarakhand is visited by millions of tourists. Char Dhams of Badrinath, Kedarnath, Yamunotri and Gangotri add up to the spiritual glory of the region.
The exotic mountains, religious customs and richness of the cultural heritage make Uttarakhand a perfect image of the true Indian culture. Some of the most popular folk songs of this region are Mandals, panwaras, somber khuded, thadya, and jhoda. Several musical instruments are used in synchronization to form these beautiful soul-enriching folk songs. Regional musical instruments used are damoun, dholki, Dhol, daur, thali, bhankora, turri, ransingha, and masakbhaja.
Lifestyle
The culture of Uttarakhand can be comprehended without glimpsing into the people`s lifestyle. The tribes Kols, Mundas, Bhotis throng in the region and they speak Kumayani and garhwali is the main languages. Some wonderful pieces of architecture can be in forts like The Chandpur fort, Temple of Srinagar, Padukeshwar near Badrinath. Tourism industry, too, is developing as quite a number of tourists both from India and overseas throng the region. Alka hotel, Aroma Hotel, Lake Resort are renowned for its hospitality and excellent facilities thus prompting its lodgers to frequent the place time and again and explore the beauty of the region.
Being the hub of Vedas and other Hindu Shastrs , the people had got high propensity towards education and learning. It is abode to the most erstwhile engineering college of India, namely the Indian Institute of Technology at Roorkee. Other premier universities of the region are the G. B. Pant University in Pantnagar, Kumaun University in Nainital and Almora. It is also a storehouse of art and crafts. Expert crafts men of the region have produced exuberant art pieces thus capturing the world market within a short span of time. The Garhwal School of painting is also famous worldwide and these include instances of Ramayana, series of Radha -Krishna love paintings etc.
Although a baby in comparison to its date of formation, the rich state of Uttarakhand can stand at par with other Indian states in terms of its excellent cultural heritage and tradition.
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