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Ramman Festival

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November 06, 2025

Prelims: Current events of national and international importance | History

Why in News?

President Droupadi Murmu attended a special session of the Uttarakhand Assembly recently, where she presented with a Ramman mask and a book on the centuries-old festival celebrated in the state’s Garhwal region.

  • Location - Ramman is a festival celebrated annually in April during Baisakhi at the twin villages of Saloor-Dungra in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli.
  • It is a unique blend of ritual, theatre, music, and dance, deeply rooted in the local traditions of the Garhwal Himalayas.
  • Community - It is dedicated to the custodial god, Bhumiyal Devta, a local divinity whose temple houses most of the festivities.
  • Core elements - The festival involves theatrical performances of the Ramayana and local legends, in which people sing songs and wear masks while dancing.
  • There are 18 different types of masks made of Bhojpatra, Himalayan birch, that performers wear during the event, represent different deities and mythological figures.
  • Rituals and Performances - Ramman begins with an invocation to the Hindu god Ganesha, followed by the dance of the Sun God, an enactment of the myth of the birth of Brahma and Ganesha.
  • The other dances include the dance of the Bur Deva along with Krishna and Radhika.
  • After these initial performances, the focus now shifts to the enactment of the local Ramkatha (tale of Lord Ram). Episodes from Ram’s life are sung to a total of 324 beats and steps.
  • Associated Traditional instruments - dhol, damau, and bheri accompany the performances.
  • UNESCO Recognition - In 2009, Ramman was inscribed in the list of UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
  • According to UNESCO, the festival is a multiform cultural event that reflects the environmental, spiritual, and cultural concepts of the community.

Reference

The Indian Express | Ramman Festival

3 comments
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ragdoll 5 days

Subway Surfers has vibrant graphics, seamless gameplay, and great soundtracks that match its fast pace. Players can explore new locales and landmarks as the game updates. As players go across the city, settings and locales change, creating a new visual experience. 

sully min 15 days

The Ramman Festival is a fascinating cultural tradition that blends theatre, ritual, music, and dance. Its use of handmade masks and storytelling from the Ramayana shows how deeply community traditions and mythology are connected. I actually came across this while browsing after checking SoFlo Wheelie Life, and it’s amazing how rich and unique local festivals can be.

Diane Dorsey 4 months

Great post! I enjoyed learning about the Ramman Festival and its rich blend of ritual, dance, and community tradition.

Snow Rider 

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