Hey Everyone, today let's talk about my hometown Uttarakhand, India.
Uttarakhand is aptly known as the Land of Gods or the "Devbhoomi", thanks to the mention of this region in ancient Hindu Scriptures as the abode of Gods.
With mesmerising natural beauty, numerous places of religious importance, and a number of snow clad peaks of the mighty Himalayan range, the state of Uttarakhand in India is the playground of the perennial rivers abundant with water like the Ganga, Yamuna, Alaknanda and Saryu.
Uttarakhand holds a unique place in the world because it is home to many traditions, festivals and a rich culture. Uttarakhand is associated with three main deities worshipped in Hindu religion, namely, Vishnu, Shiva and Goddess Shakti (known as Nandadevi or Bhagwati in Uttarakhand).
Famous for the temples of Badrinath, Kedarnath, Yamunotri, Gangotri and Hemkund Sahib (Holy place for Shikhs and Hindus alike), places of Uttarakhand has several mentions in Ramayana and Mahabharata. Scriptures are full of the stories of sages who had their ashrams in hills of Uttarakhand. Lord Vishnu, it is said, chose Badrinath for his penance. Goddess Nandadevi (Shakti), the consort of Lord Shiva, was born in Uttarakhand. The ritual of Nanadadevi going from her Father’s home in Garhwal to Lord Shiva’s place Mount Kailash is celebrated as a grand festival and pilgrimage famously known as Nandadevi Raj Jat Yatra, a three week long pilgrimage.
Ramman, a religious festival manifested in the form of ritual theatre, held every year in twin villages of Saloor-Dungra of Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, and has received the honour of being recognised by UNESCO in its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Humanity. This unique festival is not celebrated elsewhere in Uttarakhand.
Renowned for their humble lifestyle, honesty, and modesty, the people of Uttarakhand reflect a sincere bond with nature and gods. The culture of Uttarakhand still revolves around its traditional ethics, moral values, the simplicity of nature and a rich mythology.
