Kesar Saga - An Epic from the Himalayas

Posted by: Admin Pragya
Posted On: 23-Dec-2012

The Kesar Saga poem is an eleventh-century Tibetan epic about Kesar, the King of Ling. The story became the national epic of Ladakh, and it is so much a part of the region’s cultural landscape that some claim that Kesar was actually born in Kargil. A god incarnated, Kesar announces at his birth his identity as the Lion King. He will inevitably confront the evil Trotun who has long ravished the kingdom. To avoid a prophecy of his defeat at the hand of a magical king, Trotun convinces the nobles of the land to exile Kesar, and the hero consequently suffers many hardships. Through his own quick-wittedness, the help of the gods and magical means, Kesar eventually achieves his goal, overcomes evil and brings unity and prosperity to the kingdom of Ling.

The Saga exists in oral form throughout cen ...

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Kapula - the vanishing traditional footwear

Posted by: Admin Pragya
Posted On: 11-Nov-2012

The traditional footwear of Lahaul & Spiti is the ‘Kapula’. Made from shoots of plants and animal skin or ‘pakpa’, Kapula was used round the year, particularly during the winters, where the temperatures can plummet to -20 degrees Celsius. The Lahaulis usually prefer kapula made of goat skin rather than sheep’s skin because the former is more durable and suited to the weather of the region. People used to wear jurab (traditional socks) made from pattu and bakza (pure wool) to cover their feet and the kapula was worn over that.
 
The kapula is made from shoots of plants like ‘gundum’ (local wheat), ‘beli’ (wild shrub) and animal skin. Shoots of gundum, known as ‘soma’, are first sprinkled with water and then twisted and beat ...

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Kholi - the intricate woodcraft of Uttarkashi

Posted by: Admin Pragya
Posted On: 16-Oct-2012

Decades back, the temples and the houses of the rich/higher class people in Uttarkashi could be identified through the majestic looking wooden entrances/doors with intricate designs. These magnificent structures are called Kholi, which was not just a demonstration of their architectural display and richness but it gave an idea about the creative intelligence and technical brilliance of the local artisans as well as religious background of the family living in the house. Kholi is believed to be completely indigenous, with some rumoured influence from Tibet, but has not been validated so far by any study. It is a low height entrance deliberately designed in a way that any person entering through it has to bow his/her head. Traditionally, Kholi was made by the local artisans who belonged to the lower classes o ...

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Aipan - a reflection of Kumaoni culture

Posted by: Admin Pragya
Posted On: 13-Sep-2012

Travelers, trekkers and tourists visiting the beautiful mountains of the Kumaon region in Uttarakhand are captivated by the beautiful and intricate art forms of the region. Folk art, folk songs and folk dances are an integral part of the people in Kumaon and one such popular art forms of the region is ‘aipan’. While strolling in the lanes of villages in Pittoragarh one can witness walls, pieces of cloth and paper adorned by this art form, where simple raw materials are used to create intricate and mesmerizing designs.
 
Also known as ‘aepan’ or ‘alpana’, this form of art has a special importance in the Kumaoni culture. The name ‘aipan’ has been derived from the Hindi word ‘arpan’ (means to give or given). It is a form of painting or ...

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Plants in Himalayan arts & crafts

Posted by: Admin Pragya
Posted On: 22-Aug-2012

The plants of the Western Himalayan region have been used, either directly or indirectly, in the arts and crafts of the region. In the case of grass mats, this use has been direct; while in the making of other woven crafts of the region wool, plants and plant derivatives have been indirectly used, for instance, in the wooden looms on which these crafts are woven and the vegetable dyes obtained from leaves, roots and flowers of different plants are used to make these crafts look bright and attractive. 

Adding some colour!
People of this region have been using the native plants as dyes. Some of the species used include Rheum dahlia, Rheum australe, Tagets indica (marigold), and Arnebia euchroma. Rheum australe yields an orange dye; while Arnebia euchroma yields a bright ...

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Cultural change in the Himalayas

Posted by: Admin Pragya
Posted On: 08-Aug-2012

The communities living in the Himalayas have various ethnic affinities and display a variety of social systems, religions and customs. Over the centuries, the Himalayan people have witnessed invasions, migrations, political unrest and several wars. The culture of the people in this region has been shaped as a result of all these factors and has resulted in the intermingling of various tribes, often of different religious affiliations. The topographical and ecological factors of the area have also played an important role in shaping the culture because of the heavy dependence of people on natural resources for their livelihood and sustenance. Thus, the culture has evolved into an interesting amalgam of various social customs and traditions and is clearly visible in the rich variety of language ...

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Natural Dyes from the Himalayas - the splash of colours from nature

Posted by: Admin Pragya
Posted On: 15-July-2012

The northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh is home to a wide variety of economically important plants and is also a major biodiversity hotspot. The ethnic communities inhabiting the state have evolved various ways over the years to utilize the state’s rich plant resource in different ways, such as food supplements, medicines, in construction, handicrafts etc. Many of these plants are also used in preparation of natural dyes and have applications in cosmetics, textiles and colorants. The indigenous communities use traditional knowledge for extraction of dyes. Their processing and preparation from different parts of the plants like the bark, fruits, leaves and roots; sometimes they also use animal residues in the preparation process. Some of the popular plants found in West Kameng district, which are u ...

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Guree Geet - the melody of Lahaul

Posted by: Admin Pragya
Posted On: 12-Jun-2012

‘Guree geet’ are traditional folk songs of the ethnic groups inhabiting the Lahaul region. These songs were originally inspired by the ‘Anjini’ folk songs of the Chamba valley and brought to Lahaul region by the shepherds and pastoralists who used to travel to Chamba and Kullu for grazing. These pastoralists learned the songs from both the places and modified it by changing the dialects and telling stories of their own villages and local heroes in it. Many of these guree geets were inspired by Hindu mythologies, as majority of the population in the region are Hindus and migrated Kashmiri Pundits. Though the songs were mostly in Jambiali and Ghulvi dialects, every valley in Lahaul region has their own Guree Geet in their respective dialects. Guree geet is also known as ‘graks&rs ...

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Move to the rhythm and beats of the folk dances in Pithoragarh

Posted by: Admin Pragya
Posted On: 17-May-2012

Pithoragarh, lying in the Kumaon region in Uttarakhand, is known for its natural beauty and its rich cultural heritage. An important part of this culture is its traditional dance forms and songs of the region. These rhythmic dances reflect the beliefs and lifestyle of the people of Pithoragarh. The dances along with the songs are truly unique and are important forms of entertainment for people in these regions. They are performed on several different occasions like marriages, fairs, religious festivals, social gatherings etc. Each of these occasions has a unique dance form attached with it. The dancers, both men and women are colourfully dressed and sometimes decorate their faces with different colours. Here are some of the dance forms of Pithoragarh and their significance.

Chholiya &ndas ...

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