Villages of Uttarakhand are divided into two major regions, Garhwal and Kumaon. The simple lifestyle of the villagers and their wonderful way of celebrating festivals are some of the major features of the villages. The villages are also considered lifeline for Uttarakhand as they are the base of the state"s agricultural, economical and industrial strength.
Education in Villages of Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand contains some of the premier institutes of education in the country. To encourage the spread of education at Uttarakhand, the government is ensuring that poor but brilliant students in its rural areas receive free education. Mid-day meals and co-curricular activities are some of the ways that have been introduced to popularize education in the state.
Occupation in Villages of Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand is an agrarian state. About 80 percent of the population of the state is dependent on agriculture for its livelihood. Due to unavailability of moisture in the soil and inadequate rainfall, the crop productivity is not very good in the region. The major crops produced in the state include rice, wheat, barley, corn, etc. The state is a major supplier of fruits like apple and litchi.
Festivals in Villages of Uttarakhand
Celebration of various fairs and festivals is an integral part of society in the villages of Uttarakhand. The major religious festivals celebrated in the villages of Uttarakhand include Basant Panchami, Bhitauli, Phool Dei, Makar Sankranti, Olgia or Ghee Sankranti, Khatarua, Bat Savitri, Ganga Dussehra or Dasar, Hilljatra, Chhipla Jaat, Kandali, Nandadevi festival, Janopunya, Kumaon Holi, etc. On the other hand, the major festivals of Garhwal region are Hatkalika Fair, Tapkeshwar Fair, Surkhanda Devi Mela, Kunjapuri Fair, Lakhawar Village Fair, Mata Murti Ka Mela, etc. People in the Kumaon region celebrate the major festivals like Uttarayani Mela, Shravan Mela (Jageshwar), Kartik Poornima, Kasar Devi fair, etc. round the year.
Art and Culture in Villages of Uttarakhand
Different forms of folk music and dance are performed by the rural people in Uttarakhand during the fairs and festivals. The villagers perform these as part of celebrating the festivals. The famous folk dances of Kumaon region in Uttarakhand include Ramola, Chhapeli, Chancheri, Jhora, Choliya Dance, Thali, Jaddu, Jhainta, etc. The popular folk dances in Garhwal region are Langvir Nritya, Barada Nati, Pandava Nritya, Shotiya, etc. Apart from these, the Bhotia tribes also perform their traditional dance form called Bhotia Dance. The villagers also perform various forms of folk songs during the festivals including Chhopati, Basanti, Mangal, Jagars, Bajuband, Khuded, Chhura, etc. The songs are often accompanied by the musical instruments like Dhol (Drum), Damua (a smaller drum), Hurka, Thall, etc.
