Lucknow: The ninth day of the Uttarakhand Mahotsav at Pt. Govind Ballabh Pant Pahari Sanskritik Udyan, Birbal Sahni Marg, witnessed an ever-growing crowd as visitors indulged in shopping, food, and a series of vibrant cultural performances. With the festival nearing its conclusion, the venue remained packed throughout the day, offering everything from traditional Himalayan delicacies to handicrafts and cultural showcases.
Food stalls serving American bhutta, tandoori chai, and a variety of local Garhwali and Kumaoni dishes drew large queues. Millets, pulses like gahat and bhatt, madua flour, fresh mountain vegetables, bal mithai, singodi, chocolates, Bikaneri namkeen, traditional Uttarakhand jewellery, artificial jewellery, pottery, handicraft products, and woollen garments were among the major attractions.
Among the most popular stalls was Kule Kule, offering pure woollen, polyester-free clothing made from Angora rabbit wool, Yak wool, Australian Merino, Lamb wool, and Pashmina—crafted without harming animals. Their handmade, organic, eco-friendly items and jacquard cotton bags drew repeat customers, many of whom visit the Mahotsav every year specifically for such unique products.
Cultural Essence: The Jhoda Tradition
Media coordinator Rajendra Singh Kanwal explained the traditional Jhoda dance, derived from the word “jod”. This collective folk dance, performed during weddings, fairs, and festivals, features men and women forming a circle, placing hands on each other’s shoulders, taking rhythmic steps—three forward, one back—while the lead singer plays the hudka. He described it as a graceful, symbolic expression of harmony between men and women.
Stage programmes were anchored daily by Sundar Singh Bisht, Rajesh Bhatt, Mahendra Gailakoti, and Surendra Rajeshwari. A dedicated desk at the venue received applications from migrant Uttarakhand residents, with Govind Ballabh Fulara facilitating grievance redressal.
Dignitaries Grace the Evening
Today’s chief guest Dr. Dinesh Sharma, Rajya Sabha MP, along with Rajesh Kumar (IAS), DG Uttar Pradesh Tourism; Dr. Balkar Singh (IAS), Commissioner, UP Awas Vikas Parishad; Ashwini Kumar Shukla, Regional Director, SBI Life; Lalit Bhargava, Anurag Mishra, Ankita Singh, and Gopal Krishna Sinha, jointly lit the ceremonial lamp to inaugurate the evening’s events. Guests were felicitated with bouquets, angvastras, and Aipan art mementoes.
Dr. Sharma praised the Mahaparishad’s continuous efforts to celebrate Uttarakhand’s heritage and expressed gratitude for their cultural commitment. The Mahaparishad extended thanks to co-sponsor SBI Life. International hockey player and Rani Laxmi Bai Awardee Manju Bisht, former captain of the Indian women’s hockey team, was also felicitated.
Competitions and Colourful Performances
From 2 PM, an art competition featured eight participants, with Anubhuti, Saanvi, and Prabuddh winning first, second, and third prizes. A rangoli contest held among students of New Public Academy Inter College, Kalyanpur, saw Group Shahina-Jyoti-Arpita-Priyanka securing first place.
Cultural performances at 4 PM included:
- Saraswati Vandana, Rajasthani and Ghoomar dances by Grace at Pace Studio & Academy led by Shailja Srivastava
- Kathak, Garhwali, and Jaunsari dances by Sworanjali Kala Kendra under Sandhya Prajapati
- Vocal performance by Rishabh
- Punjabi dance by Raghav
At 5 PM, the second round of the Jhoda competition saw five teams—from Telibagh, Munsiyari, Vasundharapuram, and Vikas Nagar—delivering powerful group performances that earned tremendous applause.
Star Night and Dance Rounds
The star attraction was Uttarakhand’s renowned dancer Ankit Kumar, whose choreography has become a hallmark of contemporary Uttarakhandi music. His energetic performances enthralled the crowd.
In the “Nachega Bharat” third round, teams from Liric Academy of Music and Nupur Sanstha lit up the stage with dynamic routines.
The Dance Uttarakhand Dance – Season 4 contest featured four teams—including Devbhoomi Vrindavan Samiti, Naya Savera Foundation, Youth Cultural Committee, and Srijan Group—each showcasing high-energy performances in a bid to enter the finals.
In the Voice of Uttarakhand segment, migrant singers Jagd Singh Dhapola, Darshan Singh Parihar, Babli Bhandari, and Haritima Pant mesmerized audiences with original and traditional compositions.
Guest artists from Dehradun’s cultural and social organisations, led by Vandana Sanwal, also left a deep impression through their well-crafted performances.
Gearing Up for the Grand Finale
Tomorrow, the concluding day will feature:
- 2 PM: From Tradition to Progress, Chholiya dance by Uttanchal Kala Kendra, Almora
- 4 PM: Performances by Veena Vardayinee, mountain mashups by Vishal Gupta, solo dance acts by Kanishka Bisht, Aanya Madar, Swara Tripathi, and solo singing by Priyanka Dixit
- 5 PM: Final rounds of the Jhoda competition, Nachega Bharat, and Dance Uttarakhand Dance – Season 4, followed by a special presentation by the Dehradun cultural troupe under Vandana Sanwal.
With festive fervour, cultural pride, and spirited participation reaching their peak, the Uttarakhand Mahotsav is set for a grand and memorable finale.
