Lucknow : The banks of the Gomti River have turned into a colourful canvas of India’s folk heritage as the Uttarakhand Mahotsav continues to celebrate the hill state’s rich culture, art, and traditions through a series of vibrant performances and exhibitions. From the aroma of traditional delicacies to the rhythmic beats of folk dances, the festival has become a visual and cultural treat for visitors.
On the fourth day of the ten-day event, the evening ceremonies were inaugurated with the lighting of the ceremonial lamp by Divisional Commissioner Vijay Bishwas Pant, Major General Sharad Vikram Singh, Colonel Satyendra Negi, and office bearers of the Uttarakhand Mahaparishad.
The evening was dedicated to the Indian Army, honoring the service and sacrifice of ex-servicemen. The segment was led by Rajendra Singh Bisht, in the presence of several veterans including Bahadur Singh Bisht, Hemendra Rana, Madan Mohan Pandey, Puran Singh Adhikari, Shiv Singh Sethi, A.D. Joshi, T.D. Bhatt, Dhan Shyam Kesari, Lalit Mohan Pant, and others.
More than 2,500 artists from across India are participating in this grand cultural confluence, presenting Uttarakhand’s art, music, dance, and folk traditions on a live platform. A notable highlight of this year’s Mahotsav is the active participation of youth, who are not only performing but also engaging with the festival on social media. Instagram and Facebook are flooded with reels and selfies, expanding the festival’s reach among younger audiences.
The afternoon featured the Kafav Solo Folk Dance Competition, in which Saanvi secured first place, followed by Jinisha and Deepa Pandey in second and third positions respectively. The competition was organized by the women’s wing of the Mahaparishad.
The audience was captivated by an array of performances — Chholiya dance, Heart and Soul Musical Dance Academy’s classical recital led by Shailendra Singh, Kirti Bisht’s dance to “Saavri Saavri”, Gargi Dwivedi’s solo act, Indu Saraswat’s Awadhi folk song, Sneha and Jyoti’s Pahadi fusion, Yupika Tiwari’s folk performance, Riddhi Bisht’s “Main Pahadan”, and Ananya Singh Rawat’s folk dance — each bringing alive the colours and emotions of the hills.
The Seemant Nagar Jhora group led by Pushpa Joshi won applause for their performance, while Kishan Lal’s team from Nayi Disha, Nainital, supported by the Uttarakhand Culture Department, received appreciation for their traditional presentation.
Adding to the cultural diversity, a troupe from Banda, Bundelkhand, led by Ramesh Pal, performed the Pee Danda dance, known for showcasing bravery, friendship, joy, and community unity during festivals and village celebrations.
Cultural groups from various Lucknow localities, including Radhika Bora (Gomti Nagar), Hema Wangdi (Devbhoomi Jan Sarokar Committee), Meena Adhikari and Kamla Chufal (Kurmanchal Nagar), Pushpa Vaishnav and Pushpa Gailakoti (Uttarakhand Mahaparishad), and Deepa Kalakoti (Bharat Nagar), enthralled the audience with their synchronized Jhora folk dance, beautifully depicting the spirit and vibrancy of Uttarakhand’s hill traditions.
The Uttarakhand Mahotsav continues to stand as a grand celebration of cultural unity — where art, music, and tradition converge to bring the mountains closer to the heart of the plains.
