Uttarakhand Foundation Day 2022: 9th November

Uttarakhand Foundation Day:

Uttarakhand Foundation Day is observed on November 9 every year. Also known as Uttrakhand Divas, it is celebrated to mark the establishment of the 27th state of India. Uttarakhand did not come into existence with India’s independence. It is one of the newer states that was created under the Uttar Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2000.

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The state of Uttarakhand has very rich natural resources which include glaciers, rivers, dense forests and snow-capped mountain peaks. It also houses the four most sacred and revered Hindu temples also known as the Char Dham of Uttarakhand. Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri. The capital of the state is Dehradun and the winter capital is Gairsain.

Uttarakhand Foundation Day: History

When Uttarakhand Kranti Dal was formed, with the aim of achieving statehood, a widespread movement to achieve statehood swept the region in 90s. It kept on for years. Subsequently, the state of Uttarakhand was formed, initially as Uttaranchal. The then-president, K. R. Narayanan, approved the bill on August 28, 2000, which later turned into an act. Finally, on January 1, 2007, Uttaranchal was officially renamed Uttarakhand.

The name Uttarakhand is derived from the Sanskrit dialect which literally means ‘Northern City’. On January 1, 2007, its name was changed to Uttarakhand. The state is an amalgamation of culture, ethnicity and religion and is one of the most visited tourist destinations in India. The border states of Uttarakhand include Tibet, Nepal, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.

Festivals of Uttarakhand:

Phooldei (Flower Solstice): Phuldei is celebrated on the first day of the month of Chait. People put flowers, goods, rice, and coconut in a wooden basket and put them at the main gate of the houses of the villagers and pray for the well-being of the house, and sing.
Harela: It is celebrated on the first day of the month of Shravan. 10 days before that, 5 or 7 types of seeds are sown in a vessel, and on the day of the festival, the grown-up leaves are cut and offered to the deities.
Diwali: It is also known as Bagwal. On the night of Diwali, bhaila is played by lighting the light of a fruit peel, and the cow is worshipped and given sweets on this day.
Basant Panchami: It is usually the Hindu month of Magh or January. During this auspicious occasion, people worship Goddess Saraswati with great reverence.
Holi: This festival of colors is celebrated for two days in Uttarakhand.
Bikhoti: The equinox Sankranti in Uttarakhand is known as Bikhoti which is celebrated on the first day of the month of Baisakh.
Ghee Sankranti (Ogalia): Ghee sankranti falls in the middle of September. On this day, ghee is applied to the head.
Vat Savitri: People fast for Vat Savitri on the Amavasya of Krishna. This fast is observed by married women who pray for the long life of their husbands.
Makar Sankranti (Ghughutia): Makar Sankranti is celebrated on the first day of the month of Magh. On this day, flour, semolina, coconut, and dry fruits are mixed and made into ghuggis and fed to a black crow.
Bhitali: This festival of Uttarakhand is celebrated in the month of Chaitra as per the Hindu calendar. It falls on the very first day of Shravan and is celebrated with great fanfare all over the state.
Khatoduwa: The festival is celebrated on the first day of the month of Ashwin in the Kumaon region. It is mainly celebrated for animals.
Raksha Bandhan: Raksha Bandhan in Uttarakhand is also known as Janyo-Punya, which is celebrated on the full moon of the month of Shravan. It symbolizes the bond of brothers and sisters.
Chaintol: The festival is mainly celebrated in the month of Chait in the Pithoragarh district.
Jagda: This festival is associated with the deity Mahasu.
Ganga Dussehra: This festival is scheduled to be celebrated in May/June as per the Shukla Dashmi or English calendar. It is celebrated in the month of June. The holy River Ganga is worshipped on this special day.
Bhirauli: The festival is celebrated for the welfare of children.