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TRIBES IN UTTARAKHAND: STATUS AND DIVERSITY DONE BY AAKANSHA KUMARI

THE PRIDE OF UTTARAKHAND • Tribes of Uttarakhand mainly comprise five major groups named Jaunsari tribe, Tharu tribe, Raji tribe, Buksa tribe and Bhotiyas. In terms of population Jaunsari tribe is the largest tribal group of the state. Tribes of Uttarakhand represent the ethnic groups residing in the states. Every district of Uttarakhand has more or less a moderate percentage of tribal population in the state of Uttarakhand the main concentration of tribal population is in the rural areas. As per records around 94.50% of total tribal population resides in rural areas and the remaining percentage of tribal population lives in urban centres. It is said that officially Uttarakhand has been scheduled in constitution of India. Historical records suggest that the tribe of Uttrakhand are earliest settlers of this region of North India. In the past their main concentrations were confined to remote hilly and forest areas. This tribes make Uttarakhand special and more beautiful.

JAUNSARI TRIBE • The Jaunsari Pahari live primarily in the Northern state of Uttarakhand. The term Pahari can refer to any mountain dwelling people but in North India is generally refers to indo-european speaking people of the Himalayas.The different Pahari growth can be distinguished by region, religion and caste with the culture over 4,000 years old and the world second largest population India contains a multitude of closely related people group over thousands of years .The council and groups have migrated into this subcontinent and have many have maintained extend cultures today more than 800 languages are spoken in India the jaunsari caste system has only three categories landowners, servants and brahmins. One’s caste is determined by birth.

THARU TRIBE • The Tharu have lived quite simple life for four centuries they are a gentle people they make almost everything they use themselves with a touch of Art in everything they have their own Gods and follow a Bharra. Besides the Bharra who treat their diseases the village headman, bhalamansa and the desi Mahajan an Indian money leader are important people within the village.They are becoming more aware of outside issue and fireside chat in the evening is becoming more outward focused reflecting the changes in their culture.

RAJJI TRIBE • Rajji people enjoy eating wild fruit and tree root.The Rajji women wear large and heavy jewellery that is admired not many Rajji dress inthe customary tribal way they are very artistic and make handbags to sell in the markets of India most people live in interior forest regions they work is gatherers collecting honey from beehive fishing hunting and in agriculture growing their crops.They also make and sell farming tools.They do not marry within their group and there are no child marriages.The oldest man is the leader of the family.

BUKSA TRIBE • The Bhoksa or Buksa are tribal people who live in the foothills of the Himalayas in North Central India.The word Bhoksa comes from the word for mountain goat or a edible root.The primary language of the Bhoksa is there buksa language most men have some knowledge of Hindi so they can communicate with outsiders.The bhoksa are classified as scheduled caste making them eligible for special consideration for public job and College admissions.

BHOTIYAS • India is a complex mosaic of ethnic linguistic religious and social grouping because of this diversity it is very difficult to adequately describe any single people group India may have divided into four main categories. The Himalayas the northern river plain regions the Deccan Plateau and the eastern and western mountains because of its numerous geographical features climatic conditions are very diverse on both a seasonal and regional bases ranging from tropical to temperate extremes.





Uttarakhand Simply H eaven or Uttaranchal

Something about Uttarakhand Uttarakhand formerly known as Uttaranchal is a state in the northern part of India. It is often referred to as the \"Devbhumi\" (literally \"Land of the Gods\") due to numerous Hindu temples and pilgrimage centres found throughout the state. Uttarakhand is known for the natural environment of the Himalayas, the Bhabar and the Terai regions. It borders the Tibet Autonomous Region of China to the north; the Sudurpaschim Pradesh of Nepal to the east; the Indian states of Uttar Pradesh to the south and Himachal Pradesh to the west and north-west. The state is divided into two divisions, Garhwal and Kumaon, with a total of 13 districts. The winter capital of Uttarakhand is Dehradun, the largest city of the state, which is a railhead. Gairsain, a town in Chamoli district is the summer capital of Uttarakhand.

Facts for Uttarakhand ● The only state where forest cover is increasing. It is mainly due to the huge success of Chipko (to stick) movement. People, in response to the reckless deforestation, would hug the trees, not allowing them to be cut ● The legends of man-eaters of Uttarakhand are world famous. A leopard of Kumaon killed 125 people before Jim Corbett killed him. A female Bengal tiger, called Champawat tiger killed around 450 people. Jim Corbett has written a bestseller – Man-eaters of Kumaon, covering all the major man-eaters. ● It is home to Valley of Flowers – UNESCO world heritage site. It is a place with a diverse variety of exotic and endangered flowers. ● It is home to Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve. The whole area is home to incredible flora and fauna, along with some major glaciers. ● World’s highest (altitude) road, the Mana Pass is in Uttarakhand. Though civilians are not allowed. ● Uttarakhand has the highest percentage of the total state population in Indian army than any other Indian state. ● Indian Military Academy (where Indian army officer recruits are trained) is in Dehradun.

Uttarakhand history. Uttarakhand, earlier known as Uttaranchal, referred to the “Land of the Gods”. Uttarakhand is a great pilgrimage centre and it is a major destination for Hindu Temples. It came into existence 9th November 2000. Its Official Languages are Hindi and Sanskrit whereas Garhwali, Kumaoni also can be heard in Uttarakhand. Its Capital City is Dehradun. Its largest city is also Dehradun. Located in the foothills of the Himalayas, the State has international boundaries with China (Tibet) in the north and Nepal in the east. On its north-west lies Himachal Pradesh while on the south is Uttar Pradesh. Uttarakhand’s name is derived from the Sanskrit words Uttara (उत्तर) meaning ‘north’, and khaṇḍa (खण्ड) meaning ‘land’, altogether simply meaning ‘Northern Land’. The name finds mention in early Hindu scriptures as the combined region of “Kedarkhand” (present day Garhwal) and “Manaskhand” (present-day Kumaon).

Uttarakhand finds mention in the ancient Hindu scriptures as Kedarkhand, Manaskhand and Himavant. The Kushanas, Kunindas, Kanishka, Samudra Gupta, the Pauravas, Katuris, Palas, the Chandra and Panwars and the British have ruled it in turns. It is often the Land of Gods (Dev Bhoomi) because of its various holy places and abundant shrines. The hilly regions of Uttarakhand offer pristine landscapes to the tourists. The State of Uttarakhand was earlier a part of the United Province of Agra and Awad which came into existence in 1902. In 1935, the name of the state was shortened of the United Province. In January 1950, the United Province was renamed as Uttar Pradesh and Uttaranchal remained a part of Uttar Pradesh before it was carved out of Uttar Pradesh on 09 November 2000. It is incepted as the 27th State of India.

The Government of Uttarakhand Governor: Krishan Kant Paul Chief Minister: President’s Rule Chief Justice: K. M. Joseph Legislature:Unicameral (71 seats) [c] Parliamentary Constituencies:Rajya Sabha (3 seats) :Lok Sabha (5 seats)

State Symbols of Uttarakhand Animal: Alpine Musk Deer Bird: Himalayan Monal Flower: Brahma Kamal Tree: Burans

Wildlife Sanctuaries in Uttarakhand ● Askot Musk Deer Wildlife Sanctuary ● Nandhaur Wildlife Sanctuary ● Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary ● Govind Pashu Vihar Wildlife Sanctuary ● Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary ● Mussoorie Wildlife Sanctuary ● Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary

National Parks in Uttarakhand ● Corbett national park ● Gangotri national park ● Govind national park ● Nanda Devi national park ● Rajaji national park ● Valley of Flowers national park

Rivers of Uttarakhand ● Alaknanda River ● Asan Barrage ● Baur River ● Bhagirathi River ● Bhilangna River ● Darma River ● Gola River ● Gori Ganga ● Jahnavi River ● River Pushpawati ● Saraswati River (Uttarakhand) ● Sharda River ● Song river (Dehradun) ● Tons River ● Vasukiganga River ● Yamuna

Famous places of Uttarakhand Dehradun – Dehradun, the capital of Uttarakhand, is situated at Himalayan foothills. The geographical location of Dehradun is picturesque with Himalayan ranges in view and River Ganges and River Yamuna on either side of the city. Natural beauty apart, the place is famous for the splendid architectural display by some of the ancient constructions. Nainital- Famously referred to as the ‘Lake District of India’, Nainital, at 1938 meters above sea level, is a scenic delight that would be irresistible to any tourist. It is located around the famous Naini Lake in a valley. With mountains on all sides, Nainital is where you need to be for a rendezvous with nature. Mussoorie – Located at an altitude of 6000 feet, Mussoorie, the ‘Queen of Hills’, is beauty personified. With snow-covered Himalayan peaks on view, the land abundant in natural beauty has an excellent climate too. The winters are chilling and the summers are pleasant. The beauty of the place mesmerized Captain Young of the British army who made this place his residence in the year 1820. Mussoorie has seen countless footprints ever since the discovery, the list of excited tourists to enjoy the immense beauty of the place is growing

Rishikesh – Rishikesh is a blend of tranquillity and adventure. Its location at the confluence of River Ganges and River Chandrabhaga and views of spectacular hills and various adventurous activities such as trekking, rafting and camping captivate nature lovers; the tranquillity of the place with the importance attached to it as a pilgrim center touches the soul of pilgrims. Rishikesh is called the Yoga Capital of the world. Haridwar – Haridwar is also called as the ‘Gateway to the Lord’ thanks to a great number of temples and ashrams located here. The city is considered holy and hence pilgrims from various parts of the world travel to the place to offer their prayers. It is also famous for the Kumbh Mela, a festival, which is held once in twelve years. Kedarnath- a small town located in Garhwal Himalayan Ranges is considered one of the holiest pilgrimages for those who follow Hinduism. It houses the famous Kedarnath temple. Kedarnath is located amidst majestic mountains. Badrinath - is yet another popular pilgrimage centre in Uttarakhand. This town is located between Nar and Narayana, the mountain ranges. Located at an altitude of 3133 meters and shadowed by Nilkantha Peak, you are sure to grope for words to describe its immense beauty. Badrinath Temple is the main attraction here.

Famous personalities in Uttarakhand ● Govind Ballabh Pant, recipient of Bharat Ratna India’s highest civilian award, Pantnagar University on his name. ● Anushka Sharma, Film actress ● Ruskin Bond, English writer ● Abhinav Bindra – Shooter and won Olympic gold in the 10 m Air Rifle event in 2008. ● Bachendri Pal – Mountaineer who in 1984 became the first Indian woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest.

Uttarakhand culture 1. People Uttarakhand is home to multiple ethnic groups, each having its own culture. These groups include the Jaunsari, Bhotia, Buxa, Tharu, and Raji. Sometimes, the people of this state are called “Paharis.” 2. Languages The linguistics of the land directly reflects its people, and Uttarakhand is the same in this aspect. Common languages spoken here include Hindi, Garhwali, Kumaoni, Jaunsari, and Bhotiya, among others. The state is a wonderful place to introduce your kids to different cultures and ways of life.

3. Festivals The state’s love for color and celebration is constantly portrayed in its various festivals. Some of these include Basant Panchami, Khatarua, Kumaoni Holi, Hill Jatra, Chippla Jaat, Kangdali, and Makar Sankranti. Try booking your family vacation around the time of any of these festivals to experience the authentic culture of Uttarakhand. 4. Fairs A great place for enjoyment, fairs are organized with much gusto in this region. They offer an amazing way to soak in the overall culture of the place as you and the kids spend time enjoying the various stalls, games, and performances. Some of the important fairs of the region include Kanwad Yatra, Bissu Mela, Nanda Devi Raj Jaat, Kangdali Festival, and Magh Mela.

5. Food High fiber and less dairy are the hallmarks of cuisine in Uttarakhand. Also called “Pahari cuisine,” the most common ingredient used is buckwheat. Some of the popular dishes include Kafuli, Fannah, Ras, Gulgula, Bhatt ki Churkani, and Arsa. 6. Music and Dance The serene landscape here fuels the creativity of Uttarakhand’s performers. Most songs depict social or spiritual scenarios and the popular ones are the Phag, Bair, Pavada, Hurkiya Baul, Baramasa, Saiddhali, and Pandav Songs. Some folk dances include the Bhotia Dance, Chamfuli, and Chholia. The “Badra Nati” folk dance is performed during religious functions.

Art form of Uttarakhand Paintings Paintings of Uttarakhand range from the folk arts of the women of Kumaon to the most exquisite miniature arts of Garhwal. The natural beauty of the state, considered in the ancient times as the abode of the gods, has inspired throughout history. Uttarakhand's paintings can be divided into two broad parts, the folk arts of wall paintings and ritualistic paintings and the refined art of the miniaturists. The wonderful wall paintings of the Gurdwara Guru Ram Dai and the royal houses of Karnal and Saharanpur stand as independent memorials of excellence in the tradition of painting in Uttarakhand. Miniature painting Miniature painting of Uttarakhand is one of he major schools of miniature painting in India. Although derived from the style of Mughal miniature paintings, Uttarakhand's miniature paintings developed its individual styles in the subsequent years. Given the wonderful natural beauty of the land, it was natural that artists and poets would be attracted to the state. It was also often a haven for runaways because of its location, hidden from the world in the lap of the mighty Himalayas. The Mughal prince Sulaiman Sukoh came here in exile and brought with him painters and the school of the Mughal miniature painting.

Wall Paintings Wall paintings of Uttarakhand has emerged from years of anonymity and has become widely appreciated because of its aesthetic value an decorative splendor. These wall paintings are widely practiced in the Garhwal and Kumaon regions of the state. Wall paintings in Uttarakhand has a rich tradition behind them and were not known to the world. It was only recently that the art connoisseurs of the world took note of the exquisite finesse of these wonderful paintings. Uttarakhand's wall paintings mainly served decorative and ritualistic purposes but their aesthetic values are also high. Mughal painting Mughal paintings of Uttarakhand is one of the most influential schools of Mughal miniature painting, alongside the Punjab and the Kangra schools. The Mughal paintings in Uttarakhand exhibit a combination of various influences. At the same time, it manages to hold its own as a separate and ingeniousness art form. Mughal miniature painting is one of the most illustrious traditions of miniature paintings in the world. It has its origin in the exile of Humayun, who brought back wonderful artists from Hirat and Persia to illustrate the splendor of the Mughal courts. By the time of Akbar, who was great patron of arts, the greatness of the Mughal miniature was well established. Mughal paintings at Uttarakhand is a comparatively late development.

Crafts Crafts in Uttarakhand remain centered around the religious beliefs and practices of the state. At the time of Harela, there is a tradition of making clay idols, known as 'Dikaras', in Uttarakhand. Moreover, the crafts of Uttarakhand include woodcrafts, stone carvings, jewelry, and inlaying. These crafts of Uttarakhand largely reflect the customs and traditions of Uttarakhand. Moreover, in Uttarakhand crafts, we can find the influences of the Kumaoni and Tibetan styles. Peeth It is not a completely independent art form and can be better categorized as a sub-genre of Uttarakhand's Aipen, which is a form of decorative and ritualistic arts in the state. The womenfolk of Kumaon and Garhwal are the main artists of Peeth. The techniques and the ingredients used in drawing the Peeth in Uttarakhand are extremely traditional, as are the motifs used in the drawings. It is a part of the widely popular tradition of drawing 'Alpana' at various parts of India to celebrate religious and important social occasions.

Woodcrafts Woodcrafts at Uttarakhand are designed by the local artistes there. They design various articles from wood. The most in demand woodcrafts at Uttarakhand are wood carvings which need lots of hard work. They carve out drawings on the piece of wood which can be kept as wall hangings.Apart from the paintings and small show pieces, the most in demand woodcrafts at Uttarakhand shopping centers are large statues carved out of wood. These woodcrafts of Uttarakhand are desired by tourists from all across the globe. Stone Carvings Temple architecture of Uttarakhand is the main site of its stone carvings. Most of these temples have big and heavy stone carvings. The powerful and rich kings of Katyuris, Paun, Chanda and Pawars dynasties of this region patronized the Uttarakhand stone carvings. The stones in the temples exhibit very ornamental and intricate carvings. Baleshwar, Kedarnath, Jageshwar, Bageshwar, Panch Kedar, and Almora showcase some extraordinary stone carvings of Uttarakhand.

Aipen Aipen in Uttarakhand is an extremely popular folk art practiced by the women of Kumaon in Uttarakhand. Mainly of a ritualistic nature, Aipen involves patterns and motifs of extremely traditional kinds. The name itself is believed to be a local variant of the word 'Arpan'. Aipen are decorative patterns drawn on floors, doors and walls to grace an auspicious event. Practiced largely by women, Aipen of Uttarakhand uses themes and techniques that have come down for ages. Bajuband Bajuband of Uttarakhand is mellifluous folk song and has a deep meaning. Bajuband is a romantic song of shepherds community and depicts their love and sacrifice for their beloved. Bajuband of Uttarakhand is widely known across the whole state. Bajuband of Uttarakhand is more like a dialogue of love between a man and a woman or a boy and a girl. The music of this folk song is very sweet and soothing. Bajuband is sung during festivals or on any general occasion. People sing bajuband at Uttarakhand even at the time of proposing their beloved.

Basanti Basanti is one of the most popular folk songs in Uttarakhand which is sung for the arrival of the spring season when the flowers would bloom and would add glare to the beauty of the hill state. Basanti of Uttarakhand is very special song for all the citizens of the state. When the spring is about to take over the Himalayan foothill, people all across the state in various regions start singing Basanti in Uttarakhand. Chhopati Chhopati of Uttarakhand is one of the finest romantic folk songs sung by men and women in the form of question and answers. More often Chhopati in Uttarakhand seems to be dialogue than a song. But the best part of it is that the whole folk song is quite interesting to listen to. Chhopati in Uttarakhand is widely popular as it is one of the best means of expressing one's feeling about their beloved. Chhopati is widely in use at Rawain-Jaunpur in Tehri Garhwal. You can listen to Chhopati from the Jaunpuri tribes there who perform these songs during several occasions. The song is extremely pleasing to the ear and has various instruments playing along with it to make it more melodious and rhythmic.

Chhura Chhura of Uttarakhand is a beautifully written and widely popular folk song for shepherds. For decades, chhura is being sung by the old shepherds for their next generations as a piece of suggestion from their own experience about grazing goats and sheep. The lyrics of chhura in Uttarakhand bears deep meaning and has an emotional aspect as the old men share their feelings with the youth. Every time a young man is about to step into the shoes of a shepherd, he is warned of the do's and don'ts that a shepherd must follow by his elders, who have been in this livelihood since a long time, through chhura. Chounphula Chounphula of Uttarakhand is one of the very special folk song of this Himalayan region as it is written to treasure the nature during various occasions and seasons. Chounphula at Uttarakhand is accompanied by Chounphula dance forms which are generally seasonal dance forms and add more color to the Chounphula song which describes nature's beauty. Chounphula in Uttarakhand is mainly performed by women as they revalue the classic beauty of the Himalayan foothills through their melodious voice. They perform Chounphula at Uttarakhand during various seasons and festivals such as Basant Panchmi to sankranti to Baisakhi.

Jaggar Jaggar of Uttarakhand can be counted amongst one of the multi purpose folk songs as it is used for spirit and ghost worship and it is also used as religious hymns while offering prayers to various gods and goddesses. At times jaggar of Uttarakhand is also accompanied by folk dances. But mostly jaggar at Uttarakhand is performed to call spirits and ghosts of the people so that their family members could meet them and speak to them. Around 50 jaggars in Uttarakhand have been written down for various Gods and Goddesses, spirits and ghosts. The most renowned jaggars of Uttarakhand are Ganganath, Gorilla and Bholenath. Jhumeila Jhumeila is a type of folk song sung in Uttarakhand. Jhumeila in Uttarakhand is sung to praise the bounty nature for spreading so much of natural wonder all across the Himalayan foothill. Many a times, Jhumeila at Uttarakhand is accompanied by dance which is also known as Jhumeila dance. The Jhumeila song and dance is mainly held for women. Jhumeila of Uttarakhand is performed by women, though at times men also join them, from all the communities during all the major fairs and festivals - be it Baisakhi, Guru Poornima, Makar Sakranti or any other festival related to the nature. Children in their colorful garments also come and enjoy the fervor of Jhumeila in Uttarakhand.

Khuded Khuded is one of the most famous folk songs of Uttarakhand which describes the misery and pain of a lady who has been living apart from her husband. Khuded of Uttarakhand is very painful and emotional song. It echoes the suffering of the woman who is left alone after her husband leaves her and goes to another place in search of a job. Khuded of Uttarakhand depicts the life of a low income family where the husband has to move out in search of a better job so that he can run his family, the one which he has to leave behind. Each and every word of the folk song has deep pathos attached to it. Mangal Mangal of Uttarakhand is the folk song of the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand. These are the traditional songs that are sung when the wedding rituals are on. These songs are considered to be sacred and sung along with the slokas chanted by the priests. Mangal means \"good luck\" and this is why in Uttarakhand it is being sung during the wedding so that the new life of the couple starts auspiciously. And this is why it is to be sung when the holy priests are performing the holy rituals along with chanting holy scripts from the holy writings written millions of years ago.

Literature Literature is a reflection of a society; the literature of Uttarakhand, in keeping with the prevalent tradition, also reflects the cultural pattern and customs prevalent in the society of Uttarakhand. Although there have been references of Uttarakhand in the mainstream and canonical literature over the ages, yet it is in the folk literature of Uttarakhand that the spirit of the state truly resides. All regional dialects have a great wealth of folk literature. The influences of oral tradition is strongly felt within the literature of Uttarakhand.

Uttrakhand

Contents: ● Location ● Geography ● Culture ● Food ● Flora and Fauna ● Tourism ● Sports

Location of Uttarakhand : ● Uttarakhand formerly known as Uttaranchal is a state in the northern part of India. ● It is often referred to as the \"Devbhumi\" (literally \"Land of the Gods\") due to numerous Hindu temples and pilgrimage centres found throughout the state. ● Uttarakhand is known for the natural environment of the Himalayas, the Bhabar and the Terai regions. ● It borders the China to the north; the Sudurpaschim Pradesh of Nepal to the east; the Indian states of Uttar pradesh to the south and Himachal Pradesh to the west and north-west. ● The state is divided into two divisions, Garhwal and Kumaon , with a total of 13 districts. The winter capital of Uttarakhand is Dehradun, the largest city of the state, which is a railhead. ● Gairsain a town in Chamoli district is the summer capital of Uttarakhand. The High Court of the state is located in Nainital.

Nicknames: Devabhumi {Land of Gods} Symbols of Uttarakhand Motto: Satyameva Jayate Anthem: Uttarakhand Devabhumi Matribhumi Mammal Alpine Musk Deer Bird Himalayan Monal Fish Golden Mahaseer Formation 9 November 2000 Butterfly West Common Capital Gairsain (summer) Himalayan Peacock Dehradun (winter) Judicial seat Nainital Flower Bramha Kamal Largest city Dehradun Tree Burans Sport Football

Position of Uttarakhand on Indian map State map of uttarakhand with the districts

List of districts in Uttarakhand District Headquarters Population Area Density Division (km2) (/km2) 1. Almora Almora 621,972 3,083 202 Kumaon 259,840 2,302 113 Kumaon 2. Bageshwar Bageshwar 391,114 8,030 51 Garhwal 259,315 1,781 146 Garhwal 3. Chamoli Gopeshwar 1,695,860 3,088 550 Kumaon 1,927,029 2,360 817 Garhwal 4. Champawat Champawat 955,128 5,399 247 Kumaon 686,572 7,100 68 Kumaon 5. Dehradun Dehradun 6. Haridwar Haridwar 7. Nainital Nainital 8. Pauri Pauri Garhwal

District Headquarters Population Area(km2) Density(/ Division 485,993 km2) Kumaon 9. Pithoragarh Pithoragarh 236,857 7,100 616,409 1,890 68 1,648,367 4,080 10 Rudraprayag Rudraprayag 329,689 2,908 125 Garhwal 8,016 151 Garhwal 11 Tehri Tehri Garhwal 12 Udham Singh Rudrapur 567 Kumaon Nagar Uttarkashi 41 Garhwal 13 Uttarkashi



Geography: ● Uttarakhand has a total geographic area of 53,483 km², of which 86% is mountainous and 65% is covered by forest. ● Most of the northern parts of the state are part of Greater Himalaya ranges, covered by the high Himalayan peaks and glaciers, while the lower foothills were densely forested till denuded by the British log merchants and later, after independence, by forest contractors. ● Recent efforts in reforestation, however, have been successful in restoring the situation to some extent. ● The unique Himalayan ecosystem plays host to many animals (including bharal , snow leopards, leopards and tigers), plants and rare herbs. ● Two of the India's great rivers, the Ganga and the Yamuna take birth in the glaciers of Uttarakhand, and are fed by myriad lakes, glacial melts and streams.

Physical map of Uttarakhand. Forest map of Uttarakhand

Culture: ● The state is divided into two divisions, Garhwal and Kumaon. ● Culture of Garhwal: Garhwal is a delightful spot set apart by the tall mountains, green valleys and chilly climate. ● This place has worldwide sort-out as devbhoomi and here everyone will majority of temples, holy shrines, spirituality, tourism and pilgrimage. ● Language Spoken: Garhwali is the primary language spoken in this region. Garhwali language has various lingos also including Jaunsari, Marchi, Jadhi and Sailani. ● Dresses for Men: The traditional clothing of men wears kurta and Pyjama or Churidar along with a Topi or a cap. The age of the men matters for wearing of topi or cap. During the occasion of the wedding the males wear yellow colour cotton Kurta with dhoti. ● Dresses for Women: Married womenfolk are dressed in silvery jewellery known as Hansuli which decorates the spouse’s neck along with guluband. Even though they wear their old-style clothes to respect their heritage.

Traditional dress of men and women belonging to Garhwal group of Uttarakhand

● Culture of Kumaon: This region has its own culture includes the active ethnicities, language, food, medicine, recipes and cuisines, local festivals, religious rites and ceremonies, besides others. ● The animals, birds and plants play a significant role, in becoming a part of its culture and traditions. ● Language: This group of languages spoken is known as the group of Central Pahari languages. All the festivals in this region are celebrated with a lot of passion and witness the traditional dance forms of the region even nowadays. ● Dresses for Men: The men wear kurta pajama with Topis or turbans are identified usually as Pagdis. Men also dressed with certain kind of jewels on their necks and hands. This is only definite and limited to the area of Kumaon region. ● Dresses for Women: The female wears Ghagra With short shirt called kameez .this dress resembles the dress of the Rajasthan women. The females wear a Pichora Of yellow colour. Married Females must wear a big Nath or nose ring which almost covers whole cheek alongside with silvery toe jewels with colored sindoor.

Traditional dress of men and women belonging to Kumaoan community of Uttarakhand

CULTURE OF UTTARAKHAND ● The culture of Uttarakhand still revolves around its traditional ethics, moral values, the simplicity of nature and a rich mythology. ● The people of Uttarakhand indulge in vivid celebrations and performing of rituals around the year due to their deep-rooted collection with nature and the rich mythology. Like their simple lifestyle, the festivals and fairs in Uttarakhand are also simple yet culturally rich. Each season is welcome with hearty folk songs and dance and so are the agricultural periods.