Uttarakhand

• 04 Sep 2024

Jagar Lok Sanskriti Utsav

Why in News?

Recently, government celebrated the state's rich folk culture at the Jagar Lok Sanskriti Utsav, and released the book Uttarakhand ka Lok Putra Pritam Bharatwan by Sachidanand Semwal and praised Pritam Bharatwan as the brand ambassador of Uttarakhand's folk culture.

Key Points

• Jagar Lok Sanskriti Utsav: It is a festival celebrating the folk culture and traditions of Uttarakhand.
• Jagar: It is a Hindu form of Shamanism which is practiced in the hills of Uttarakhand, both in Garhwal and Kumaon.
  • Shamanism is a global spiritual practice where a shaman enters altered states of consciousness to interact with the spirit world, heal, communicate with spirits, and guide souls.
  • As a ritual, Jagar is a way in which gods and local deities are woken from their dormant stage and asked for favors or remedies.
• Pritam Bharatwan: He is known for promoting the traditional culture and folk arts of Uttarakhand.
• Restoration and Recognition Efforts by Government:
  • Efforts are underway to restore traditional fairs to their original form and provide better platforms for artists.
  • Initiatives are being taken to gain recognition for the Jagar singing style.
  • Preservation and publication of scripts related to folk art and culture are being promoted through the Guru-Shishya tradition and art galleries.

Landslides Block Badrinath National Highway

Why in News?

Recently, a landslide blocked the Jyotirmath-Malari road, which connects to the India-China border, as well as the Karnaprayag-Gwaldam national highway.

Key Points

• Landslides triggered by heavy rain have blocked the highway at Pagalnala, Patalganga, and Nandaprayag.
• Jyotirmath-Malari Road: A high mountain road within the Nanda Devi National Park, linking Jyotirmath (1,934 m) and Malari (3,033 m).
  • Extremely steep with numerous hairpin turns along the Dhauliganga River, subjected to periodic damage from winter snow, ice, and river flooding.
• Dhauliganga: It originates from Vasudhara Tal, perhaps the largest glacial lake in Uttarakhand.
  • Dhauliganga is one of the important tributaries of Alaknanda, the other being the Nandakini, Pindar, Mandakini and Bhagirathi.
  • It merges with the Alaknanda at Vishnuprayag.
• Nanda Devi National Park: Situated around the peak of Nanda Devi (7,816 m) in Uttarakhand, India; includes the Nanda Devi Sanctuary, a glacial basin surrounded by peaks and drained by the Rishi Ganga.
  • Established as Sanjay Gandhi National Park in 1982, renamed Nanda Devi National Park; inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988.

Landslide

• A landslide is the movement of rock, earth, or debris down a slope due to gravity, often triggered by factors such as heavy rain, earthquakes, or the instability of the slope. It results in the displacement of material, which can lead to significant damage and destruction.

Pitr Chaya Express

Why in News?

Recently, Uttarakhand announced plans to run a special train from Mumbai to Uttarakhand for temple visits.

Key Points

• Pitr Chaya Express: This train is dedicated to honoring ancestors, covering important pilgrimage sites like Tarpan at Haridwar, Rishikesh, Panch Prayag, and Brahma Kapal at Badrinath.
  • It aligns with the Hindu tradition of offering “Tarpan” to ancestors during the Shradh (Pitr Paksh) period.

Note: Manaskhand Express is another train which has started in June 2024, offers a journey covering popular destinations in Uttarakhand, including train travel, meals on the train, road travel within the state, sightseeing, and accommodation in hotels or homestays.

• Destinations Covered: Punagiri Temple, Nanakmatta Gurudwara, Tea Garden at Champawat, Haat Kalika Temple, Patal Bhuvneshwar Temple, Jageshwar Temple, Golu Devta Temple, Kainchi Dham, Kasar Devi Temple, Sun Temple Katarmal, and Naina Devi Temple.