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HOUSE
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The
houses in the district have not been build according to any town planning scheme but have
been up haphazardly in clusters on level ground at places where water springs are
accessible or on the bank of the river in the valley. The houses are build of stones and
are generally double storeyed, a few having three to five storeys, the very low rooms on
the ground floor, which are usually 1.8 mrts. high being used for housing the cattle. Each
house has in front of it a courtyard called a Chauk. A mud or stone staircase or a wooden
ladder leads to the upper storey, the roof being of wood. The height of the upper storey
is generally 2.1 mtrs. and the roof is usually a sloping structures of timber covered with
Patals (quartzite slabs), the well off use corrugated galvanized iron sheets. Generally
the upper storey has a Verandah in front of
the upper rooms. The
houses in the higher regions are two to three storeyes with balconies all round and paved
courtyard in front where people do their threshing, weaving, spinning and other house hold
works. A few houses have five or six storeyes, the topmost being used as the kitchen. At
times the cattle sheds are made at some distance from the villages. The houses are built
in rows of half a dozen or so and strikingly picturesque in their fort like appearance. |
The staple grains consumed by the people of the district are wheat, rice, maze, mandua and jhanjora, the last three being coarse grains generally eaten by the poorer sections. The pulses consumed are urad, gahat, bhatt, soontha, tur, lopia and masor. The hindus of the district mostly vegetarian by habit and preference and although the Muslims, Christians and Sikhs are generally non vegetarian, those not able to afford eating meat daily due to want of fund or local unavailability often resulting to a vegetarian diet. |
Bichhuwas ( toe-rings of silver) are worn by married women whose husband are alive. Keels (Small studs) worn on the left nostril, nose ring (Naths) and ear rings made of gold and hansulis (ornament worn round the neck), chandanhar (necklaces) and necklaces consisting of colored beads or rupees or of the teeth and claws of the Panther are generally worn by women and girls. Silver amulets set with turquoise are also worn round the neck and arms. Married women wear anklets made of copper or silver. Churis (Bangles) of gold , silver or of colored glass are usually worn by women and girls. Bhotiya women wear this type of jewellery and articles made of ivory are also worn at times. Men usually wear rings and some wear gold chain round their neck. |
The dress of the people of the district is simple,
economical and well suited for the hill environment. The usual dress for men is a Kurta
(long lose shirt) or shirt, Pyjama (tight from the knee down ), Sadri (jacket), a cap and
a knee length coat, the last named being worn in winter. Those better off are increasingly
taking to trousers and buttoned up coats.Women often wear the Sari and full sleeved shirt
or Angra (a sort of jacket) in place of a shirt, the well to do wearing woolen jacket in
winter. In the rural areas most of the women still wear the long full .Women often wear
the Sari and full sleeved shirt or Angra (a sort of jacket) in place of a shirt, the well
to do wearing woolen jacket in winter. In the rural areas most of the women still wear the
long full .Girls students often wear the Salwar (very full pyjama narrow at the ankle ),
Kamiz (knee length shirt) and Dupatta ( long scarf for the head and shoulders).The
Bhotiyas who lives at high altitudes generally wear woolen clothes. The usual wear for the
men are Pyjamas, shirt, coat
and cap. |
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The women wear gay colored Angras,
a Ghagra (long full shirt), phantu (colored scarf) and a woolen shawl which is worn so as
to make a pocket on each side. Both men and women wear a long piece of cotton cloth as a
tight Kamarband (a sort of belt)shirt, tight fitting long
sleeved jacket and an Orhni (long scarf for covering the head and shoulders). |
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Living
in the mountains mostly in places that are not easily accessible the people of the
district have been able to preserve their culture, folklore, folksongs and folkdances, the
last, a distinctive feature of the district, being seasonal, traditional and religious,
some of the better known being described below - The
Thadiya dance, which is accompanied by song, is performed on Basant Panchami, the festival
celebrating the advent of spring, the Mela, another dance, is perform on Deepawali and the
Pandava during the winter after the harvesting of the crop and depicts the principal
events of the Mahabharata. Other folk dances are Jeetu Bhagdawal and Jagar or Ghariyali.
These dances enact mythological stories, the participants, both men and women, put on
their traditional colorful dress and dance to the tune of drums and Ransinghas. Another
dance perform during the fairs and accompanied by song is the Chanchari in which both men
and women participate. Folk songs are usually traditional and are sung particularly by the women, who works very hard in the fields from morning till night in all kind of weather. During the month of Chaitra the women of the village gather at a central place and sing traditional song which generally relate deeds of heroism, love and the hard life which they have to lead in the hills. In the district, fairs, festivals, religious and social gatherings are the main occasions for recreation and amusement . On special occasions people arrange Swangs (open air dramatic performances) particularly depicting scenes or legends connected with Shiva and Parvati. |
Festivals play an important
role in the life of people in the district, as elsewhere, and are spread over the entire
year, the most important being briefly described below. Ram Navami - falls on the ninth day of the bright half of Chaitra to celebrate
the birthday of Rama. The followers of Rama in the district observe fast throughout the
day and the Ramayana is read and recided and people gather to listen to the recitations. Nag Panchmi - is celebrated in the district on the fifth day of the bright half of
Sravana to appease the Nagas or serpent gods. Figures of snakes are drawn in flour in
wooden boards and are worshipped by the family by offering milk, flowers and rice. Raksha-Bandhan is traditionally associated with the Brahmanas and falls on the last
day of Sravana. On this occasion a sister ties a Rakshasutra (thread of protection)-
commonly known as Rakhi - round the right wrist of her brother in token of the protection
she expects to receive from him. Fairs are held on this occasion at Kedarnath, Karnaprayag
ans Nandprayag. Janmastami - the festival celebrating the birth of Krishna, falls on the eighth
day of the dark half of Bhadra. As in other parts of the state, devotees in the district
fast the whole day, breaking their fast only at mid-night when worshippers throng the
temples and foregather to have a Jhanki(glimpse) of the shrines and cradles specially
installed, decorated and illuminated in homes and other places to commemorate the deity's
birth. A special feature of this festival is the singing of devotional songs in praise of
Krishna in shrines and homes. The Chhati(sixth-day ceremony after birth) is also
celebrated by the devout. The festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm at Nagnath,
Badrinath and Kedarnath. Dushera - falls on the tenth day of the bright half of Asvina and commemorates
the victory of Rama over Ravana, the preceding nine days being celebrated as Navaratri
dedicated to the worship of the goddess Durga. Ramlila celebrations are held at different
places in the district particularly at Kalimath. Dipavali - the festival of lights, is celebrated in the district, as
elsewhere, on the last day of the dark half of Kartika when the houses are illuminated and
the goddess Lakshmi is worshipped. Festivities start two days earlier, with Dhanteras,
when metal utensils are purchased as a token of the desired prosperity, followed by Naraka
Chaturdashi when a few small earthen lamps are lit as a preliminary to the main day of
festival. For traders and businessmen Dipavali marks the end of the fiscal year and they
pray for prosperity in the new year. On this occasion the people of the district perform
mela nritya, a type of folk dance, a distinctive feature of the district. Makar Sankranti - is a bathing festival which falls either on January 13th
or 14th when people take bath in the Alaknanda and big fairs (Uttaraini) are
held at Karnprayag and Nandprayag. Sivaratri - falls on the 14th day of the dark half of Phalgun and is
observed in the honour of Siva. People fast throughout the day and a vigil is kept at
night when the deity is worshipped. The Siva temples are specially decorated and
illuminated and large numbers of devotees offer water and flowers to the symbols and
images of Siva and sing devotional songs in his praise. Big fairs are held on this
occasion at most of the Siva temples of the district particularly at Dewal, Bairaskund,
Gopeshwar, and Nagnath . Holi - the spring festival, is celebrated on the full moon day of Phalgun.
People start singing Phaags (Songs of Phalgun) during the nights, long before the
festival. A flag or banner is installed at a central place in the village on the 11th
day of bright of Phalgun and is burnt on the 15th day which is known as
Chharoli when ash mark is put on the foreheads of friends and relatives. The following day
is marked by common rejoicing when, till about noon, people throw coloured water and
coloured powder on each other and in evening visit relatives and friends. Many fairs are held
in the district, the important ones being mentioned below. On the 13th day of April every year the big fair known as Bishwat Sankranti is held in the district. This fair is also mentioned in the Pandukeshwar inscription of Lalitashuradeva issued in the 22nd regnal year. It is also held at Ming (April 14), Aser (April 15), Hans Koti (April 16), and Kulsari and Adbadri (April 17). Another important fair of the district is the Gaucher Mela held at Gaucher in Karnprayag in the month of November every year and is attended by number of persons. Others fairs of importance are the Nautha at Adbadri, Naumi at Hariyali, Nanda Devi at Bedni, Dattatreya Pooranmasi at Ansuya temple, Nagnath at Dewar Walla. |