Uttarakhand, located in northern India, is known as the "Land of the Gods" due to its many Hindu temples. The state has 13 districts divided between the Kumaon and Garhwal divisions. Some key aspects of Uttarakhand culture discussed in the document include the languages of Kumaoni and Garhwali, folk songs and dances, traditional cuisine, arts such as Aipan murals, and festivals like Makar Sankranti and Basant Panchami.

1. Uttarakhand Culture
By –Kanish Sharma

2. Uttarakhand formerly Uttaranchal, is a state in the
northern part of India. It is often referred to as the "Land of the
Gods“ due to the many holy Hindu temples and pilgrimage
centres found throughout the state. Uttarakhand's name is
derived from the Sanskrit words Uttara meaning north,
and Khaṇḍ meaning country or part of a country. Uttarakhand
is known for its natural beauty of the Himalayas,
the Bhabhar and the Terai.

3. There are 13 districts in Uttarakhand which are grouped into two
divisions, Kumaon and Garhwal.
The Kumaon division includes the following districts:
 Almora
 Bageshwar
 Champawat
 Nainital
 Pithoragarh
 Udham Singh Nagar
The Garhwal division includes the following districts:
 Dehradun
 Haridwar
 Tehri Garhwal
 Uttarkashi
 Chamoli
 Pauri Garhwal (commonly known as Garhwal)
 Rudraprayag

4. Uttarakhand Language
The main languages of Uttarakhand are
• Kumaoni
• Garhwali
• Hindi

5. Examples
English : What is your name?
Kumaoni : Tumar naam ki cha?
English : My name is Kamal.
Kumaoni :
Merr naam Kamal
cha.
English : How are you?
Kumaoni : Ki haal hariyaan?
English : I am fine. How are you?
Kumaoni : Main theek choo(n). Tum kas chou?

6. Folk Songs of Uttarakhand
Bajuband :
This is a folk song of love and sacrifice between the shepherds. It is a love dialogue
between the man and woman or between a boy and girl which is sung in the form of a
folk song
Basanti:
'Basanti' folk songs are composed for the coming spring season when flowers, bloom
and new life spring in the valleys of the hills of Garhwal. The folk song is sung
individually or in groups.
Chhopati :
These are the folk songs popular in Rawain-Jaunpur area of Tehri Garhwal. 'Chhopati' are
the love songs sung between the men and women in the form of questions and answers.
Chhura :
'Chhura' folk songs are sung among shepherds in the form of advice given by the old
to youngsters, having learnt it out of their experience, particularly in grazing sheep
and goats.

7. Uttarakhand Dances
Choliya Dance
The Choliya dance is a
dance form which is
more than 1000 years
old, and has its origins
in the Khasiya
Kingdom of Khasesh.
The Rajputs perform
this dance at their
weddings as a part of
the marriage
processions.

8. Jhora Dance
Jhora is a kind of
community dance
which is performed
in the villages where
the higher and lower
castes perform. It is
danced at fairs. This
kind of dance is
generally performed
during the morning
or evening, at the
coming of spring.

9. Langvir Dance
This is an energetic
dance performed
more often than not
by men. In Langvir,
the dancer climbs a
bamboo pole and
balances himself at
his navel on the top
of the pole. Music is
given by Dhol and he
balances, swivels
and almost dances
on his belly at the
pole, performing
other acrobatic
stunts.

10. Pandava Dance
Pandava Dance is a type Musical /
Broadway kind of show based on the story
of Mahabharata accompanied by dance
and music. This is performed mainly during
Dusshera and Diwali.
Bhotiya Dance
The Bhotiya Dance is performed by the
Bhotias tribe and is connected with death
ceremonies. It is believed by the tribal
people that the soul of the dead person
resides in the body of a goat or sheep and
by dancing this way the soul can be
liberated for their next birth.

11. Chhapeli
Chhapeli dance is performed by couples with the
female carrying a mirror in her left hand and a
colored handkerchief in the other. The male plays a
Hudukka on his left shoulder accompanied by others
playing the Hurka, Manjira and Flute. The dance is a
duet that outlines the joys of romance. The woman
partner (sometimes also a young boy) dances with a
smile and elegant waist movements, either in
admiration of her beauty and charm or mocking her
ways of expressing love.
Chancheri
This is a group dance of Danpur Patti region of
Bageshwar District in Kumaon. Both men and
women dance in a semi-circular formation with
gradually increasing pace putting across unbridled
joy.

12. Food
The primary food of Uttarakhand includes vegetables,
though non-veg food is also served and savored by
many. The primary characteristics of the Uttarakhand
cuisine is that milk and milk based products is sparingly
used here.
Some of the famous cuisines of Uttarakhand:
Garhwal ka fannah

13. Kafuli:
Kafuli is a thick gravy
preparation made
from green leafy vegetables
Jholi:
In Garhwali Jhol means very
thin gravy. Jhol can be made out
of tomatoes and potatoes.

14. Mandua ki Roti:
Swala
Bhaang ki Chutney

15. Arts
Aipan
Rangoli, a traditional Indian art displayed in front of the
house, makes up a sacred and age-old practice.
Aipan is one of the conventional forms of rangoli,
mainly practiced in the state of Uttarakhand. The art
has cultural as well as religious implication in the life of
the Kumanois.
Murals
The fine arts of Uttaranchal are decidedly geometric with a natural
grace and simplified complexity. One will find almost every home
and place of worship decorated with some kind of mural done either
as a proper wall painting or in the form of Aipan and Peeth.

16. Folk festivals of Uttarakhand
Makar Sankranti (Ghughutia)
According to the Hindu religious texts, on the day of Uttarayani, the sun enters the Zodiacal sign
of 'Makar' (Capricon) from the Zodiacal sign of the Kark (Cancer), i.e. from this day onwards the
sun becomes 'Uttarayan' or it starts moving to the north. It is said that from this day, which
signals a change of season, the migratory birds start returning to the hills. On Makar Sankranti
people give Khichadi (a mixture of pulses and rice) in charity, take ceremonial dips in holy rivers,
participate in the Uttarayani fairs and celebrate the festival of Ghughutia or Kale Kauva.
Basant Panchami
The festival of Basant Panchami celebrates the coming of the spring season. This festival,
which also signals the end of winter, is generally celebrated during Magh (January - February).
During this festival people worship the Goddess Saraswati, use yellow handkerchiefs or even
yellow cloths and in a few places people put a yellow tilak on their foreheads.
Phool Dei
Phool Dei is celebrated on the first day of the month of Chaitra in mid March and on this day
young girls conduct most of the ceremonies. In some places this festival is celebrated
throughout the month with the advent of spring.

17. Harela and Bhitauli
On the first day of the navaratris (nine day holy period) of the month of Chaitra women fill baskets with
soil and sow seven types of grains in them. The grains germinate symbolizing the future harvest. These
yellow leaves, called Harela, are cut on the tenth day and people put them on their heads and behind
their ears. During the month of Chaitra (March-April) brothers send presents to their sisters. These
presents are called Bhitauli.
Olgia or Ghee Sankranti
Olgia is celebrated on the first day of Bhado (middle of August), when the harvest is lush and green,
vegetables are in abundance and the milch animals very productive. In ancient times sons-in-law and
nephews would give presents to fathers-in-law and maternal uncles, respectively, in order to celebrate
Olgia.
NandaDevi Rajjaat Yatra
The three week long Nandadevi Rajjaat is one of the world famous festival of Uttaranchal. People from
entire Garhwal-Kumaon as well as other parts of India and the world participate in Nandadevi Rajjaat
Yatra.