music Uttarakhand,
the 27th state of India, is often
referred as the Land of Gods. It is a
place blessed with the beauty of heaven and the grace of Gods. This is the
place where the rivers passing through the huge rocks and wind passing through
large pine trees produces a natural melody by itself. In the past decade Uttarakhandi
Music has seen a revolution after the offer by various Music Recording /
Cassette Producing agencies such as Rama Video Cassette and T Series who have
offered news talents from local areas to make their own Cassettes after getting
their songs recorded in the Studios.Uttarakhandi folk music had its root in the lap of nature. The pure and blessed
music have the feel and the touch of nature and subjects related to nature. The
folk music primarily is related to the various festivals, religious traditions,
folk stories and simple life of the people of Uttarakhand. Thus the songs of
Uttarakhand are a true reflection of the Cultural Heritage and the way people
lives their lives in the Himalayas.
There are many kinds of folk songs from the area, including ceremonial mandals,
martial panwaras and melancholy khuded, thadya andjhoda.
This has led to a sudden surge of
a number of hidden talents from various corners of Uttarakhand which include
famous personalities such as Fauji
Lalit Mohan Joshi, Heera Singh Rana,Kalpana Chauhan, Meena
Rana, Anuradha
Nirala, Pritam
Bharatwan, Gajendra
Rana who have made
their contribution to the Kumaoni / Garhwali Music by various hit songs / music
albums over the period.
Heera Singh Rana is identified as
a singer and asocial activist whose songs tell the tale of the pain of the
people of the hills .
Some of the hit songs / albums
being Fauji Lalit Mohan Joshi's "Maya Ki Yaad", "Tak Taka
Kamla" and many other hit albums / songs ; Gajendra Rana's
"Malu", "Rani Gorkhani", "Leel Ghasyari",
"Pushpa"; Pritam Bhartwan's "Saruli", "Rajuli".
Also, with advance in Technology
and easy availability of videocams and other recording devices, lots of talents
have started producing music albums which has further led to popularization of
Uttarakhandi folk dance. In fact, Kumaoni / Garhwali songs have gained so much
popularity over the years that they have become integral part of the DJ Music
being played during wedding and other functions.
| art
The state of Uttarakhand has a rich tradition of various
arts and crafts like painting, wood carving, jewelry making, candle making,
decorative temples and of course performing arts like music and dance. Their
inspiration was obviously the lush green surroundings, the turquoise sky and
the snow filled mountains which could make anyone poetic. The tranquil environs
form a base for a treasure-house of artistically inclined people.
The most prominent craft of Uttaranchal is wood carving. Every Garhwali home,
let alone the palaces, has an intricately carved wooden entrance door. Talking
of palaces, the most notable wood-carved architectural wonders are the Chandpur
Fort, Temple of Srinagar (Garhwal), Pandukeshwar (near Badrinath), Devi Madin
(near Joshimath), and Devalgarh Temple. The next in line are the fine-arts
including the Miniature Paintings and Aipan & Peeth.
The miniature paintings have Mughal influence but Uttaranchal has its own
school/style of painting called the Garhwal School of Painting (offshoot of the
Pahari School). Aipan and Peeth however are folk forms art made generally in
homes and practiced usually by women. Both use a lot of geometric patterns,
‘Geru’ and rice paste. One can buy traditional Uttarakhand ornaments made from
gold, silver, copper, beads, semi-precious stones and lacquer from various
jewelry shops across the state.
Aipan
Rangoli, a traditional Indian art displayed in front of the house, makes up a
sacred and age-old practice. Aipan is one of the conventional forms of rangoli,
mainly practiced in the state of Uttarakhand. The art has cultural as well as
religious implication in the life of the Kumanois.
Murals
The fine arts of Uttaranchal are decidedly geometric with a natural grace and
simplified complexity. One will find almost every home and place of worship
decorated with some kind of mural done either as a proper wall painting or in
the form of Aipan and Peeth.
Paintings
Uttarakhand is interspersed with lush green trees, towering mountains and a
clear blue sky. These things are enough to make someone a poet or an artist.
This is just a fraction of the beauty of the hilly territory. Uttaranchal or
specifically, Garhwal is home to one of the most beautiful and defining
‘Gharanas’ of miniature paintings known as the Garhwal School of Painting.
Temple Architecture
Temple architecture in any part of India has always been patronized by the
kings and people ruling there as a way to leave an imprint on the pages of
history. The rulers of yesteryears built some of the intricately carved and
exquisite places of worship.
Wood Carving
The people of Uttaranchal are very creative in nature and the fact testifies
itself in the beautiful temples that dot the entire land. The wood carvings of
Garhwal and Kumaon are renowned for their simple yet delicate and attractive
designs.
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