Traditional handicrafts, exclusive regional products and Kumaoni delicacies attract visitors; poetry recital, Jhora competitions and dance performances mark the day’s celebrations
Lucknow: The sixth day of the 14-day Uttarakhand Mahotsav 2026 witnessed a massive turnout, with festival stalls packed with visitors looking for traditional handicrafts, regional products and exclusive items rarely available in regular markets. The overwhelming response has encouraged stall owners, while visitors have been enjoying the opportunity to explore and purchase distinctive products.
Traditional Jhora dance competitions, Dance Uttarakhand Dance, Nachega Bharat, Voice of Uttarakhand and the colourful Chhapeli folk dance performances kept the audience engaged throughout the day. Participating teams put up spirited performances, striving to secure places in the next rounds of the competitions.
The evening programme began with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp by chief guest Yatendra Kumar Teotia, State Marketing Manager, IFFCO, accompanied by his wife, and S.P. Singh, Deputy General Manager, IFFCO, along with his wife. Ashish Semwal, Regional Manager, IFFCO, Lucknow, was also present.
Uttarakhand Mahaparishad office-bearers, including convenor Diwan Singh Adhikari, president Harish Chandra Pant, general secretary Bharat Singh Bisht and secretary Rajesh Bisht, welcomed the guests in the traditional manner.
The chief guest congratulated the Mahaparishad on organising the 14-day festival and appreciated its efforts to introduce audiences to the cultural traditions of different states through a common platform.
Three personalities honoured
During the evening, Narayan Dutt Pathak received the Manohar Shyam Joshi Memorial Award 2026, Mathura Dutt Pant was presented the Hira Singh Rana Memorial Award 2026, and Sunder Pal Singh received the Mohan Singh Bisht Memorial Award.
Lemon race and poets’ convention
The afternoon programme began with a lemon race organised under the leadership of Mahaparishad youth president Naveen Chaudhary. In the girls’ category, Nancy secured first place and Tanu came second. Abhishek and Rahman finished first and second, respectively, in the boys’ category. In the women’s category, Sakshi secured first place, followed by Geeta.
A poets’ convention was held at 4 pm, presided over by Uttarakhand Mahaparishad president Harish Chandra Pant and conducted by Puran Singh Jeena. The programme opened with a Saraswati Vandana by poet Priyanka Bisht.
Poet Kailash Singh recited his Kumaoni composition ‘Ghuru Ghuru Ghural Lagi Dhughuti’, while Priyanka Bisht presented ‘Tum Janmon Ke Pyar Ka Vardan Ho’. Pan Singh recited a Kumaoni poem reflecting the resilience of women.
Puran Singh Jeena presented his humorous ‘Lockdown Chalisa’, recalling public disregard for lockdown restrictions. Poet Dhan Singh Mehta Anjaan touched the audience with a composition about the happiness of fatherhood. Narayan Dutt Pathak presented a lullaby for Children’s Day, while noted poet Ghananand Pandey Megh impressed listeners with his melodious recitation.
Folk dances and competitions dominate evening
The cultural programme beginning at 6 pm featured performances by Dance Frolic Dance Academy, Eldico City, led by Pallavi Prajapati, with classical and group dance presentations.
The second round of Nachega Bharat Season 3 featured teams that had secured 60 per cent marks in the qualifying round. Five teams, led by Kiranlata Pandey and Sadhana Singh, Shailaja Srivastava, Sahil Srivastava, Poonam Kanwal and Shailendra Singh, presented their performances.
Traditional Jhora performances by teams from Vikas Nagar, led by Trilochani Rawat, and Kanhaiya Nagar, led by Radha Bora, received appreciation from the audience.
Five teams participated in the Jhora competition, representing Vikas Nagar, Khargapur in Gomti Nagar, Devbhoomi Jan Sarokar Sanskritik Samiti, Mayapuri and the Ramleela Samiti, Telibagh. The men’s Jhora competition also featured a performance by Devbhoomi Jan Sarokar, Gomti Nagar, led by Balwant Vangi.
Dance Uttarakhand Dance Season 5 featured three teams that had qualified with at least 60 per cent marks. The teams represented Devbhoomi Vrindavan Sanskritik Samiti, Srijanakur Group, Gomti Nagar, and Art and Culture Group, Shivani Vihar, Kalyanpur.
The collective Chhapeli folk dance presented by the three participating teams brought spectators to their feet.
The day’s star-night attraction was renowned Uttarakhand dancer Sakshi Kala, who has earned recognition through her performances in several Uttarakhand folk songs and music albums. Her presentation received an enthusiastic response from the audience.
Almora’s Bal Mithai remains a major attraction
The festival’s food and shopping stalls continued to attract large crowds. Media in-charge Rajendra Singh Kanwal said Almora’s famous Bal Mithai was witnessing particularly strong sales.
The traditional sweet is prepared by roasting khoya until it reaches a pliable consistency, shaping it and coating it with small white sugar balls. Poppy seeds are also used in the coating. The sweet is associated with a popular Kumaoni saying: ‘Almori baal, bhyar bai sukil huni, bhiteer bai laal huni’, referring to its white exterior and reddish-brown interior.
Highlights of the next day’s programme
The seventh day will feature a Pahadi Nimbu Sanan competition at 1 pm, celebrating a traditional sweet-and-sour winter snack.
A dental check-up camp by Dr Pooja Sanwal will be organised at 2 pm, alongside a state-level dance competition featuring solo and group categories.
The afternoon schedule will include folk dance and singing performances, solo Pahadi dance presentations and programmes by Lok Sanskriti Foundation, Arts and Cultural Society and Nritya Pravah Dance Academy.
The evening programme will feature traditional Jhora performances, the men’s Jhora competition, Nachega Bharat Season 3, Dance Uttarakhand Dance Season 5 and Voice of Uttarakhand. Participants who secured at least 60 per cent marks in the first round will compete in the subsequent rounds. Four teams will also present performances in the Jhora competition.
The festival will conclude its seventh-day celebrations with a special star-night programme featuring performances by participating cultural groups.
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