Choliya dancers performing during Nanda Devi Mahotsav

Choliya dancers performing during the Nanda Devi Mahotsav at Almora - Nainital, Uttarakhand.

Choliya is a dance form practised in the Kumaun region of Uttarakhand. It is basically a sword dance accompanying a marriage procession but now it is performed on many auspicious occasions.

It is especially popular in the districts of Pithoragarh, Champawat, Bageshwar and Almora of Kumaon division and has even spread to the Garhwal division.

This sword dance has a history of more than a thousand years and is rooted in the martial traditions of the Kumauni people.

Bedupako, the first global radio of Uttarakhand recently telecast the significance, history and contemporary scenario of Chholiya dance, offline radio description can be tuned at.

The Nandadevi fair is held at Almora, Nainital, Kot (Dangoli), Ranikhet, Bhowali, Kichha and also in the far flung villages of lohar (like Milam and Martoli) and Pindar valleys (like Wachham and Khati). In the villages of the Pindar valley people celebrate the Nanda Devi J aat (journey) every year, while in lohar people come from far and wide to Danadhar, Suring, Milam and Martoli in order to worship the Goddess. In Nainital and Almora thousands take part in the procession carrying the dola (or litter) of Nanda Devi. It is said that the Nanda Devi fairs started in Kumaon during the reign of Kalyan Chand in the 16th Century. A three day fair is held at Kot ki mai or Kot bhramari devi. The fair at Saneti comes every second year. Both these fairs are rich in folk expressions and many village products are brought for sale.

Source :- Wikipedia, http://www.nainitaltourism.com/naina_devi_temple.html




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