Jul 23, 20232 min read

Stories of Uttarakhand

"Blessed with the beauty of the Himalayas with Ganga and Yamuna amidst its land as well as the home to ancient Hindu temples, we are excited to share with you Stories from Uttarakhand. Join us as we explore Garhwali and Kumoani culture as well as the rich traditions, festivals, folk dances and music of this ancient land."

Main Languages Spoken: Hindi, Garhwali, Kumaoni, Jaunsari

Dialects Spoken: Srinagariya, Badhani, Tehri, Lohbya, Jaunsari

Let's look at one of the major tribes of Uttarakhand known as the Kumaoni Peoples.

The Land of the Kumaoni

The Kumaoni people are those that originate from the land of Kumaon which spans over the eastern half of Uttarakhand. Over the past 4000 years, the region has seen a vast number of communities from all over like the Kol tribals as well as Indo-Scythians etc, which have added to the origination and ancestry of present day Kumaonis.

Kumaon is believed to have been derived from Kurmanchal, meaning, the land of the Kurmavatar (tortoise incarnation of Bhagawan Vishnu). The region of Kumaon, as stated in the Manaskhand, is said to be the birth place of Kurmavatar.

Introducing the traditional handicrafts of Uttarakhand:

Famous Handicrafts of Uttarakhand

The Aipan, Kholi and Metal Ornamental handicrafts of Uttarakhand have been passed down generation after generation. They provide us a snippet into the past and carry through into the present. One of our favorites is Aipan which is a form of Rangoli, using rice flour paste to create intricate designs that have spiritual, cultural and religious significance. Women of Uttarakhand pass down this creative art form to their daughters and the cycle continues.