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 The
newly formed Indian state of Uttaranchal is a haven for the tourism.
Uttaranchal is a popular tourist state of India for its natural
beauty, varied terrains, pilgrimage centers and the hill stations.
Tourists and devotees from India and abroad travel to the sacred
places in Uttaranchal like Haridwar, Rishikesh, Kedarnath, Badrinath,
Yamunotri and Gangotri. For the sun-scorched souls of the plains the
tours to the hill resorts that dot Uttaranchal like Dehradun,
Mussoorie, Almora, Nainital, Ranikhet et al are rejuvenating.
Uttaranchal is indeed paradise for tourists of varied interests.
Uttaranchal's National Parks beckons animal lovers, adventure seekers
and tourists from all over India. Tourists love the man-eaters in the
Jim Corbett National Park and pachyderms in the Rajaji National Park.
Tours to the alpine forests in the Indian state of Uttarachal
including the Valley of Flowers National Park (known for its amazing
variety of flowers), Nanda Devi National Park, Govind National Park,
Gangotri national park etc makes travel to India terrific. Travel to
Uttaranchal offers tough challenges of high- and low-altitude
trekking, river rafting, para gliding, hang-gliding, mountaineering
and skiing to the tourists. Travel to the Indian state with
breathtaking natural splendor, grand wild denizens, and simple people-
Uttaranchal.
Pethnicity
Garhwal
Garhwal resembles other parts of the Himalayas where various ethnic
groups live side by side. Following chiefly the agrarian-pastoral way
of life, native Garhwalis make their living from the hilly land the
best they can. Some, like the Bhotia traders, migrate far and wide,
although the ancient trade routes with Tibet have been closed since
1950. Most of the indigenous people like Jaunsari, Bhotia, Buksha,
Tharu, and Raji are heterodox Hindus and Buddhists, while Sikh
migrants from West Punjab have settled in the lowlands since 1947. A
few Muslim groups are also native to the area, although most of them
have settled recently. The Muslim Gujjar herders also migrate to the
hills.
Kumaon
The inhabitants of the Kumaon hills are commonly known as the
Kumaonese. They belong to a predominantly patriarchal society, which
recognizes the superiority of men over women. The social structure is
based on the extended family system, the eldest male member being the
head of the family. Women are respected in society but they usually
confine themselves to household activities. No religious ceremony is
considered complete without the wife joining the husband. Women also
work in the fields and forests alongside the men. In Kumaon, bigamy or
polygamy has religious sanctions but polyandry is prohibited. Widow
marriage and re-marriage by divorced women is permitted except in
certain sections of high-caste Brahmins and Rajputs. Child marriage is
still practiced in all classes of society despite legal restrictions
on it. It has all but disappeared from the educated society.
Arts & Crafts
The peace and tranquility of Uttaranchal laid the foundation for a
treasure house of paintings and art. Out of the two major art forms,
the art of stone carving and woodcarving are fairly well known. The
art of stone carving gradually died down, but woodcarving continued.
Woodcarving could be seen on almost every door of a Garhwali house
until only half a century ago. Woodcarving can still be seen in
hundreds of temple all over Garhwal. The remains of architectural work
have been found at the Chandpur Fort, temple of Srinagar, Pandukeshwar
(near Badrinath), Devi Madin (near Joshimath), and Devalgarh Temple.
Music & Dance
Garhwal
The Himalayas have inspired generations of singers, balladeers, and
musicians throughout the ages. The natural beauty of the
mountains-which inspires a deep spirituality-and the harshness of
life-which darkens the heart with adversity and anguish-have
invigorated Uttarakhandi music, heightening its poignancy and
enriching its lyrical texture. Although, increasingly influenced by
trends in Hindi film music (with Garhwali songs set to film-style
music), the more traditional forms of Himalayan music have remained
deeply popular. This has been especially true of the Pahari penchant
for folksy values, biting humor, raw honesty, loving devotion, and
soaring spirits that shines through each song. Indeed, in face of
other homogenizing trends in India, Uttarakhandi music has
distinguished itself in retaining its cultural uniqueness and vibrant
sound, while remaining popular among the masses.
Major
dance forms of the region are Langvir Nritya, Barada Nati folk dance,
Pandava Nritya, Dhurang, and Dhuring.
Kumaon
The Kumaonese are fond of music, folk dance, and songs accompanied by
local musical instruments like murli, bina, and hurka. The hurka is
played by the "jurkiya" and the dancer accompanying him,
known as "hurkiyari," is usually his wife or daughter. They
go from place to place narrating folklores, singing the praise of
their gods and goddesses. During fairs and festivals and at harvest
time, the Kumaonese often dance the Jharva, Chandhur Chhapalior, and
many other forms of folk dances. The popular folk songs are Malushahi,
Bair, and Hurkiya Bol.
Fairs & Festivals
The major fairs and festivals of the Garhwal region are Hatkalika
Fair, Tapkeshwar Fair, Surkhanda Devi Mela, Kunjapuri Fair, Lakhawar
Village Fair, and Mata Murti Ka Mela.
The
major fairs and festivals of Kumaon region are Uttarayani Mela,
Shravan Mela (Jageshwar), Kartik Poornima at Dwarahat, Kasar Devi
fair, and Nanda Devi melas.
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