Lucknow | The third day of the ten-day Uttarakhand Mahotsav at Pt. Govind Ballabh Pant Pahadi Sanskritik Udyan, Birbal Sahni Marg, turned into a grand confluence of cultures as artists from across the country and local performers captivated audiences with their electrifying acts. The scenic Gomti riverfront came alive with the vibrant rhythms of DUD (Dance Uttarakhand Dance), Naachega Bharat, Jhoda, and Voice of Uttarakhand competitions — transforming the venue into a celebration of heritage, music, and movement.
The festival, one of Lucknow’s most anticipated annual cultural events, continues to be a celebration of the rich traditions, heritage, and spirit of Uttarakhand, showcasing the state’s artistic diversity over ten days of performances, exhibitions, and community engagement.
Confluence of Traditions and Talent
The day began with a warm welcome of the chief guest, Devendra Pal Verma, President of Arya Pratinidhi Sabha, who was felicitated by office-bearers of the Uttarakhand Mahaparishad with a bouquet, an angavastram, and a memento. In his address, Verma congratulated the organizers and praised the performers for keeping the mountain state’s cultural essence alive in the heart of Lucknow.
As every evening, the atmosphere turned devotional at 6 PM with the daily aarti of Lord Badri Vishal, where hundreds of devotees joined in collective reverence, their chants echoing along the riverbank.
Social and Community Engagement
Carrying forward the festival’s social commitment, K.K. Hospital continued its free medical camp, offering BP and sugar tests and free medicines. Responding to a request from the Mahaparishad, the Army Recruitment Headquarters, Lucknow, also set up a stall to educate and motivate youth about career opportunities in the Indian Army. The organizers expressed gratitude to their sponsors — State Bank of India, NTPC, LIC, SBI Life, and Battulal Prayagnarayan Jewellers (Ramnagar, Uttarakhand) — for their continued support.
Performances That Dazzled the Crowd
The cultural competitions began at 2 PM, with 12 teams participating in group singing and an energetic lineup in group dance, where Vivaan and Shilpi bagged first place, followed by Madhu, Shailja, and Deveshwari in second, and Suman and Sarika in third position. The events were supervised by Pushpa Vaishnav and Sunita Kanwal, with judges Revati Bhatt and Lakshmi Joshi evaluating the performances.
The Chholiya Dance by Udanchal Kala Kendra, Almora drew loud cheers as artists showcased breathtaking stunts in traditional warrior style. The evening’s highlight included Shreyasi Pandey’s “Ghar More Pardesiya” and Ghoomar dance, Sumit Singh’s soulful Sufi Kathak, and the Pahadi mix dance by Divyanshi and Rudrakshi Bhatt. Tripti Gupta’s Fat to Fit Academy enthralled the audience with a medley of “Bhola Shambho,” “Radha Kaise Na Jale,” and “Ayi Girinandini,” while Radha Sahu’s Pahadi dance won hearts for its authenticity.
From 5 PM onwards, two Jhoda performances — Shivani Vihar’s team led by Hema Bisht and Bajrang Nagar’s team led by Kamla Bisht — captivated the crowd, followed by mesmerizing performances by troupes supported by the Culture Department, Government of Uttarakhand, Dehradun.
The Spirit of the Hills in Every Beat
The Jhoda competition featured six energetic teams, including Kanhaiya Nagar (Radha Bora), Kurmanchal Nagar (Neelam Joshi and Renu Kandpal), Adil Nagar (Shobha Patwal), Sankalp Group (Manju Pandey), and Sarojini Nagar (Manju Negi), each striving for a place in the next round with graceful moves and synchronized rhythm.
In the Naachega Bharat contest, teams from VVD Skill Development (led by Shailendra Singh and Beena Verma), Yash Musical Group Ayodhya (led by Sangeeta Ahuja), and Nupur Sanstha Mahanagar (led by Vibha Nautiyal) mesmerized the crowd with their colorful choreographies.
The energy reached its peak during Dance Uttarakhand Dance Season 4, featuring troupes like Devbhoomi Vrindavan Jan Sarokar Samiti (PGI Vrindavan area) led by Prem Singh Bisht, Naya Savera Foundation (Neelmatha) led by Pinky Nautiyal, Youth Cultural Committee (Gomti Nagar) led by Sarthak Rawat, and Srijan Group (Chinhat) led by Sunita and Rajesh Rawat.
Adding to the day’s charm, the Ayodhya troupe, led by Mukesh Kumar under the aegis of the Culture Department, Uttar Pradesh, presented a stunning Farwahi dance, blending grace, vigor, and folk artistry — earning thunderous applause from the crowd.
As the lamps flickered along the Gomti and the air filled with music, colors, and cheers, the Uttarakhand Mahotsav once again reaffirmed its place as a living bridge between the mountains and the plains, bringing the soul of Devbhoomi to the heart of the city.
