Why in news?
Recently, the President of India was presented with a Ramman mask at a special session of the Uttarakhand Assembly.

About Ramman Festival

• The Ramman festival is an annual religious festival and ritual theatre of the Garhwal Himalayas, unique to the twin villages of Saloor and Dungra in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, India.
• It has been recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity since 2009. 

Key Aspects of the Festival

• Village Deity: The festival is an offering to the local guardian deity, Bhumiyal Devta, and takes place in the courtyard of his temple.
• Timing: It is held annually in April or May, after the spring harvest, and typically lasts for 11 to 13 days, with the exact dates depending on the Hindu calendar.
• Community Roles: The entire community participates, with specific roles assigned to different caste groups: Brahmin priests conduct rituals, the Das community drummers provide the music, and men from the Bhandari (Kshatriya) caste perform the masked dances.
• Performances: The festival combines complex rituals, singing of oral epics (known as Jagar), and masked dances. The performances enact episodes from the Ramayana and other local legends and historical events.
• Masks: A central element is the use of 18 different masks made from the wood of the Bhoj (Himalayan birch) tree, representing various gods, demons, and historical characters.
• Key Episodes: Performances include the dances of Ganesha, Parvati, and the Sun God, followed by the main Ramkatha (story of Rama). Other significant acts include the Maal Nritya (a historical re-enactment of a battle between Gorkhas and Garhwalis) and the Koorjogi (a satirical performance related to agricultural life).

Significance
Beyond its religious value, the Ramman festival is an expression of the community's cultural identity, history, and a mechanism for the oral transmission of traditional knowledge across generations. It also symbolizes an agrarian celebration of ties between man, nature, and the divine. 

Download Pdf