#uttarakhand folklore

When people think of Uttarakhand, snow-capped mountains, holy places, and popular places like Nainital, Mussoorie, and Kedarnath automatically come to their mind. Even though people from all over the world visit these places each year but these are just not the only attractive parts of Uttarakhand, there is something else as well that has never been explored- the stories, the cultures and traditions that have existed for years. The whispers of the Himalayas.

Living Heritage of Mountain Villages

There are many remote places high up in the Himalayas of Uttarakhand that have preserved its traditions which have been unchanged for years. Their lives are centered around their community, the environment, and age-old traditions. The villagers have retained the traditions, customs, the festivals that are celebrated every season, and the ancient folk tales which they are still telling from one generation to another. Places like Munsiyari, Khirsu, and many remote villages of the Johar and Darma valley serve as homes for these communities which can even give you a glimpse of a forgotten world.

Forgotten folk tales of the Himalayas

Every single mountain in Uttarakhand has a story to tell about ancient kings, bravest warriors, village deities, and the mischievous spirits believed to live in the forests. One of the amazing traditions in Uttarakhand is oral storytelling. The elders of every village tell the old stories of legends which have never been written, these tales are not just interesting and entertaining they are historically significant as well and convey certain life lessons too. These forgotten folk tales are a hidden treasure of the Himalayas that still need to be explored by travelers.

Traditional festivals beyond tourist spot

Apart from fairs and festivals like the Kumbh Mela that attracts global attention, there are some other fairs and festivals of Uttarakhand that display the diversified cultural life of Uttarakhand. Festivals like Harela and Phool Dei of Uttarakhand symbolize nature and its relationship with human life and farming. Harela marks the beginning of monsoon season, while Phool Dei is the welcome festival of spring season and flowers, and Bagwal or the buffalo fight. These traditions showcase the importance that the villagers have attached to their nature and traditions since always.

Melodies of Uttarakhand's folk music

Music is something that forms an integral part of the lives of people living in Uttarakhand. The folk songs called Jhora, Chanchari and the basanti music often tell stories of devotion, love, migrations and bravery. The music is usually played on dhol and damau instruments and is a way for villagers to stay together and celebrate special occasions and fairs like weddings, social get-togethers etc. The music contains the feelings of the life in the mountains. This musical tradition is kept alive by many local singers even today.

Preserving a Cultural Treasure

These traditions and culture of Uttarakhand are slowly vanishing as modern lifestyles creep into the hills. However, some endeavors are being undertaken for the conservation of the cultural life and heritage of Uttarakhand with the help of tourism agencies and locals themselves. Traveling to these places beyond the tourist map could help preserve them.

Conclusion