Music of Uttarakhand

The folk music of Uttarakhand refers to the traditional and contemporary songs of Kumaon and Garhwal regions in the foothills of Himalayas. This music has its root in nature and the hilly terrain of the region.

The folk songs of Uttarakhand reflect the region's cultural heritage and the lifestyle of its inhabitants in the Himalayas. Common themes in this folk music include the natural beauty of the region, seasonal changes, festivals, religious traditions, cultural practices, folk tales, historical figures, ancestral bravery, and love ballads.

The folk songs sung in Uttarakhandi music include the dhol damau, Turri, ransingha, dholki, daur, thali, bhankora and mashakbaja. Tabla and harmonium are also sometimes used, especially in recorded folk music from the 1960s onwards. In recent years, Uttarakhandi folk songs have transformed. Generic Indian and global musical instruments have been incorporated in modern popular folks by singers like Gajendra Rana, Narendra Singh Negi, Gopal Babu Goswami, Mohan Upreti, Chander Singh Rahi, etc. Modern themes include geopolitical issues affecting the region, humor, and nostalgia for the hills by the diaspora.

Traditional folk songs from the region, include ceremonial Mandal, Martial Panwara, Melancholy Khuder, Religious Jagar, Thadya, and Jhora.


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