Uttarakhand is a state located in the northern part of India whose majority of the land is associated with the Himalayas. The culture and tradition of the state are very rich and ancient and most of them are associated with the Hindu Gods and nature. It attracts millions of tourists and pilgrimages annually and this has boosted the tourism and hospitality industry. Hotel and Resort for Chardham yatra have already emerged due to an increase in the number of visitors.
The inhabitants of the Uttarakhand are called ‘Paharis’ meaning people from the hills. The state is a multi-ethnic state with Hindu dominated religion that majorly compromises of the Rajputs, Thakurs, Garhwali, Gujjar and Kumauni communities. Hindi is the most widely spoken language of the state. People of Uttarakhand like their simple lifestyle, though their culture is rich they like to celebrate simple.
Culture:
The culture of the Uttarakhand is enriched by traditional music, dance, festivals, foods, spirituals, arts, and crafts. There is an old history of the places in Uttarakhand associated with the Gods thus Uttarakhand is also termed as the land of Gods. The state has preserved India’s ancient practice of Yoga and Ayurveda. The religious bond between the people and nature and God can be felt by music, dance, and festivals. The Ayurveda is associated with the millions of herbs found in the Himalayas. The Himalayas is also believed to be the home of Lord Shiva where he was living with his family spending most of his time in meditation.
The festivals are celebrated with great enthusiasm which includes Deepavali, Holi, Dussehra, Navaratri, Shivaratri, Nag Panchami, Ganga Dussehra. The people of Uttarakhand are also skilled in arts and crafts along with wood crafting and paintings, they prefer to wear homemade woolen knitted sweaters in the winters.
The culture in Uttarakhand is divided into two major regions namely Garhwal and Kumaon. The way of religious, social, and cultural expressions can be witnessed in fairs and festivals. If you are planning to visit Uttarakhand do check for the best Hotel in Garhwal Himalayas and top Resort in Garhwal Himalayas.
Tradition:
The Paharis have followed their tradition of beliefs, language, and costumes from their ancestors. The female dresses are Ghagara, Agari, Dhoti Kurta, and Bhotu, whereas dresses for males are Pyjama, Kurta, Gol Topi, Bhotu, Dhoti, and Mirje. The pieces of jewelry include Jajir, Thawk, Pauji, Uttarai, Mund, Sut Dhagul, Jhumuk, Phuli, Habel, Guloband and all of these Nath is important jewelry of woman's traditional attire in Kumaoni region.
Garhwali is the main spoken language of Uttarakhand and is originated from Hindi. Jaunsari and Bhotiya are the other two local languages spoken by tribal communities in the northern and western regions. The folk dance of Uttarakhand is Chanchari, which is also known as 'Jhoda-Dance.' It is usually performed in a group where the dancers put their hands on the waist and dance.
The traditional foods of Uttarakhand are Arsha, Rotan, Gughuti, Jhingora, Dubuk, Chutkani, Paliyo, Bhatiya, Gulgula, Kadhi. Mustard oil and desi ghee are mostly used for cooking. Bal Mithai, swal, Khajur, Arsa, Mishri, Gatta, and Gulgula are some traditional sweets of Uttarakhand.