The Hindu : New Delhi News : Celebrating festival of hills in the Capital

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Tuesday, Oct 21, 2008
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Celebrating festival of hills in the Capital

Staff Reporter

The six-day Garhwal fest showcases unique lifestyle and medicine system of the region

A glimpse of the Garhwali beauty.

NEW DELHI: Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts here is hosting a six-day special Garhwal festival at Mati Ghar on Janpath.

Titled “Kauthik: Celebrating Garhwal”, the event that opened on Monday showcases the unique lifestyle of the hilly region. It will also feature cultural performances besides a healers’ workshop presenting the three traditional and unique medicine system of the region.

Thirty-five healers of the three traditions – “Naadi Vaidya”, “Ekal Vaidya” and “Mantra Vaidya” – will hold consultations for the public every afternoon on all days from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. While “Naadi Vaidya” is the science of diagnosis through touching the nerves, “Ekal Vaidya” is based on sound knowledge of treatment through herbs. “Mantra Vaidya” is a cure based on chanting and recitation of certain sacred verses. The workshop is being organised by the Uttaranchal Youth and Rural Development Centre.

“Ramman” is one of the religious festivals of Uttarakhand that is an offering to the village deity “Bhumiyal Devta”. It is held in the courtyard of the Bhumiyal Devta’s temple. This festival is not replicated anywhere and is unique to this site. “Ramman” is marked by mask dances, music renditions and other ritual celebrations.

“Ramman”, “Jeetu Bagarwal”, a traditional dance-drama, and theatre performance “Chakravyuh” are scheduled for Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

The exhibition presents some of the most unique objects that have been brought from the Garhwal region. These include the sacred masks made of “bhoj patra”, old costumes for the dance that are no longer used and several other such items. It is aimed at highlighting the architecture and lifestyle of the region.

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