Our Culture

Submitted to: Submitted By:

Archana Diwakar Bijlwan
 Our Culture
Thet pahadi
Uttarakhand is known for its beautiful Garhwali and Kumaoni culture.
The various traditions, religions, fairs, festivals, folk dances, music are
what distinctly separate them.  Uttarakhand, also known as Dev
Bhoomi, has been the centre of religious and spiritual knowledge for
ages. The history and culture of Uttarakhand are deeply connected with
religion and celebrated everywhere. Many cultures and ethnicities
coexist here with peace and harmony. Most of the state is divided
into two regions named Garhwal and Kumaon. It is also home
to Jaunsaries, Tibetan refugees, Bokshas, among others.
 Garhwali Culture

Garhwali is the main language spoken here that has a number of

dialects too including Jaunsari, Jadhi and Sailani. Garhwal is inhabited
by people belonging to a number of ethnic groups and castes. These
include Rajputs who are believed to belong to the Aryan origin,
Brahmins who migrated after the Rajputs or later, tribals of Garhwal
who stay in the Northern tracts and comprise of Jaunsaris, Jadhs,
Marchas and Van Gujars. 
 Kumaoni Culture

The people of Kumaon speak 13 dialects including Kumaiya, Gangola, Soryali,

Sirali, Askoti, Danpuriya, Johari, Chaugarkhyali, Majh Kumaiya, Khasparjia,
Pachhai and Rauchaubhaisi. This group of languages is known as the group of
Central Pahari languages. Kumaon is also rich in its folk literature which
comprises myths, heroes, heroines, bravery, Gods, Goddesses and the
characters drawn from Ramayana and Mahabharatha. The most popular dance
form of Kumaon is known as Chhalaria and it is related to the martial
traditions of the region. All the festivals are celebrated with a lot of
enthusiasm and witness such traditional dance forms even today.
Folk Dance and Music of Uttarakhand
The lives of the people of Uttarakhand are filled with a lot of music and dance. Uttarakhand religious gatherings would be incomplete without folk
songs and dancing{Dancing is considered to form a major part of their traditions}. So the people hold their culture in high regard and celebrate
together.
 Some of the folk dances include:
i. Barada Nati is the popular dance of Jaunsar Bhawar area in Dehradun district 
ii. Langvir Nritya is an acrobatic dance form performed by the men
iii. Pandav Nritya is the narration of Mahabharatha in the form of music and dance
iv. Dhurang & Dhuring are popular folk dances of the bhotiya tribals.
Folk songs include:
v. Basanti is composed to welcome the spring season
vi. Mangal is sung during the marriage ceremonies
vii. Jagars is used during the worship of ghosts 
viii. Bajuband talks about the love and sacrifice of the shepherds,
ix. Khuded talks about the suffering of a woman who gets separated from her husband
x. Chhura talks about the experience of the shepherds and the advice passed on by them to the younger generation.
Traditional Festivals Of Uttarakhand
The typical Hindu festivals such as Diwali, Holi and Navratri are celebrated here with much
zeal. Along with this, the Garhwali culture has its festivals such as:
Harela parv, Phooldei, basant Panchami, khichdi sankrant, Ganga Dussehra.
i. Harela parv is celebrated in Kumaon as the first day of the monsoon. It is followed by the
festival bhitauli, celebrating the seeds sown by Kumaoni women and the harvest time.
ii. Igaas is another Garhwali festival; it is celebrated a few days after Diwali and is also
known as Garhwali Diwali. The history behind igaas is that the men of Garhwali families
who worked in the Army couldn’t come off duty on Diwali. So, they would go home a few
days after it, and their families would celebrate Diwali all over again to celebrate their
safe homecoming.
Traditional Foods Of Uttarakhand
Most Garhwali cuisine revolves around plant-based items that can be
grown in the mountains. They also need nutritious food that will keep
them warm during the harsh winter months.
Here are some of the famous Garhwali foods
i. Arsa
ii. Phaanu
iii. Kaafli
iv. Jhangora ki kheer
v. Gulgula
Traditional Dresses Of Uttarakhand

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.
• Traditional Dress Of Men
Almost everyone follows a similar dressing style. The most commonly
worn lower garment is either a Dhoti or a Lungi. Various coloured
Kurtas are worn as the upper garment. Kurta-Pyjama is another very
famous alternative for the men of Uttarakhand. 
Uttarakhand is a land of many cultures and festivals. People from all
over the country have settled down here and make the land richer with
cultural history. It is the perfect place for anyone who wants to learn
more about the Hindu religion or for the breathtaking views of the
Himalayas.
Uttarakhand is thus a hub of different traditions, ethnic groups and
languages brought together. This is what brings out the beauty of the
state.