Udhampur, town
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Udhampur City
Prof Neeraj Dubey,Time to explore Udhampur "Daily Excelsior" 20/12/2015
Udhampur is an important district which was one of the largest district of the state before bifurcation of its territory which led to a separate district of Doda. Udhampur district is important not only because of the location of the Headquarter of Army Northern Command, but also because of no. of Tourist and Pilgrim centre. Udhampur town is the headquarters of this district. Patnitop and Sudh Mahadev are also tourist places. Major attractions in Udhampur city include Gole Market, Devika Ghats, Jakahni Park, Ramnagar chowk (Pandav mandir), Salain Talab, and the Main Bazar.
HISTORY: – Udhampur had been named after Raja Udham Singh, the eldest son of Maharaja Gulab Singh, the founder of Dogra rule in J&K. The town is said to have been built in place of dense forests to which Udham Singh occasionally went on hunting trips. He developed great love for the spot and chose it as site for a township. Udhampur – the fifth largest district of the state is situated in the southern part of J&K State. The district lies between 32 degrees – 34 minutes to 39 degrees – 30 minutes north latitude and 74 degrees – 16 minutes to 75 degrees – 38 minutes east longitude. The district having an area of around 3000 sq. kms. Due to altitudinal variation ranging from 600 meters to 2000 meters, there is wide variation in temperature in different parts of the district. The temp. rises sometimes as high as 42- degrees celsius a very seldom goes below 1.5 degrees Celsius in low altitude areas. May, June, July are the hottest months, while December, January, February are the coldest months.
CULTURE:- The culture of this area is PAHARI which resembles the culture of other areas of Duggardesh. The other part of the district has Dogra culture. Dogri is the main language spoken by the people of the district. The Dogri spoken here is known for its sweetness in tone. Their main language is DOGRI/PAHARI. The language is the rural and hilly areas has maintained its native purity, accent and sweetness. Gojri is also spoken by the Gujjar Community settled here and there. However, Dogri is main language spoken in the district. The district is culturally an integrated part of Jammu region and all important religious fairs like Lohri, Maha Shivratri, Id-ul-Fitr, Holi,Ramnavmi, Baisakhi, Basant-panchami, Martyr’s day of Guru Arjun Dev, Raksha Bandhan, Janam Ashtami, Mahanavami, Dussehra, Diwali, id-ul-zuha, Guru Ravi Dass’s b’day, Mahatama Gandhi’s b’day Guru Govind Singh’s b’day, Chacha Nehru’s birthday. Above all, the Independence Day & Republic Day are celebrated with great enthusiasm. Holy Navratras also provide special occasion for worship and pilgrimage to holy places culminating into small to big fairs. The Dogras of Udhampur are stout people with a tradition of culture and chivalry going back to the hoary past. Their contribution to the cultural heritage of India is Priceless. The dialects of the area are Dogri, Pahari and Gojri. The folk dances are Kud , Yatars and Bhangara. Kud dance is based on traditional dogri folk and performed mainly in Panchari and Dudu-Basantgarh. The folk songs of the district are Lok Geet, Bhakha etc. Bhakha are certain songs sung independent of musical instruments. The Sudh-Mahadev , Krimchi , Panchari , Mantalai , Kud , Patnitop are the important attractions of the district. Sudh-Mahadev :- It is situated at distance of 42kms from Udhampur. During the time when Lord Shiva married Parvati , the daughter of Raja of Himachal at this place, there lived a cruel person named Sudeva who was a extortionist and used to put the people of this area to great miseries. Mahadeva put him to his doom. In this way after the name of Sudeva and Mahadeva, the place became famous as Sud-Mahadev. Every year , pilgrims in thousands from in and around Jammu province pay their obeisance to Mahadeva at this place on the occasion of Jeshta-Purnima. Holy Devak originates from here. It is called Gupt-Ganga. In the south west of Sudhmahadev there is Gouri-Kund spring named after real name “Gouri” or Parvati Devi.
Krimchi :- A small village situated at a distance of 10 kms from Udhampur. It is famous for old ancient temple called Pandavas temple.
Ramnagar :- It is a hilly area and a largest Tehsil of district Udhampur , which is famous for its ancient temples , Forts and Palaces, namely called Sheesh Mahal.
Panchari :- A small village situated at a distance of 37 kms in the North West side of Udhampur. It is Famous for natural charm , hilly spots , lush green and good climatic conditions. It is also called Mini-Patnitop.
Importance of River Devak :-
The holy Devika River flows through the Udhampur town which is famous for its spiritual and sacred values. This river has got a great importance & spiritual significance like Ganga especially for the people of Hindu’s and Sikhs community, which after performing the last rites of human body on the bank of river Devika immersed their ashes in the devika river. It is seen that the ashes gets disappeared very soon after immersing.
In the end , it is worthwhile to mentioned here the five natural characteristics by which Udhampur town is famous for :- Hawa(Air) , Badh(Pipal) , Bakhay(Gossips) , Bhodi(tree) & Bhayian( Natural Spring ). The author like to conclude this article by these sweet lines, “Udhampuray Dey Sharay Di – Tuseygi Gal Suna – Jeethey Char Pasey Rounsali Tarah – Jeethey Far Far Chuldi Hawa.”
(The author is Sr Faculty – GCET Jammu )
Baisakhi Mela
Ashok Sharma , Baisakhi Mela at Udhampur "Daily Excelsior" 9/4/2017
Fairs and Melas are an intrinsic part of Indian socio cultural and religious life. In India, we have a tradition of famous Melas such as Mahakumbh Mela, Pushkar Mela etc.which attract millions of tourists,traders and devotees from within and outside the country.
Our state is also known for various fairs and melas such as Jhiri Mela,Bahu Mela, Hemis Gompa Mela, etc. which tell us a lot about the rich cultural heritage of our state, which has been bequethed to us by our forefathers. Since ancient times, fairs and melas have been organised in Duggar which add colour and vibrancy to our life. These melas also help to showcase the rich culture of the Dogras at national and international level through folk dances such as Kud,Fumnian etc. It is a feast to the eyes and ears of the visitors to watch the Dogra art and culture live in these Melas.One such mela which is the largest mela in Udhampur is the Baisakhi Mela.
The historic Baisakhi Mela or ‘Basoa’ in local parlance is an annual Mela organised on the eve of first Baisakh, usually from 13 April to 15 April every year on the bank of sacred rivulet Devika at Udhampur since times immemorial.According to Pt.Sudesh Khajuria, this historic mela is believed to have been organised every year for about two hundred years.According to legends, Devika is considered to be the elder sister of Ma Ganga and it is believed that Lord Shiva, on the request of Rishi Kashayap,sent Mata Parvati on the earth to flow as river Devika and rid the people of Madardesh (Duggar) of all their afflictions and sins.It is said that even a single dip in sacred Devika rids a person of all his/her sins.The Mela is also organised to mark the harvest of crops and it attracts visitors and traders from different parts of our state and from other states as well. Apart from Udhampur, Baisakhi Mela is also organised at’ Baisakhi Dabbar’in Barmeen,about twenty two kilometres from Udhampur and at Benisang in tehsil Chenani.Tehsil Ramnagar is the hub of Dogra culture and grand Baisakhi mela is organised at Dalsar, historic Chougan and Nauji respectively on first, second and third Baisakh every year in Ramnagar.The Baisakhi Melas at all these places also attract thousands of people of different communities,religions,castes etc.from the adjoining villages and towns.The visitors in high spirits and dressed in colourful Dogra attires present a true picture of unity in diversity.
There is an atmosphere of celebration,joy, colourfulness and vibrancy all around with the traders selling their merchandise and children and elders dressed in colourful new dresses enjoying rides on merry-go-rounds,hindolas etc.Other attractions in the mela include daredevil feats in Mout Ka Kuan, Circus etc.Many shopkeepers set up their temporary shops to sell sweets, icecream, juices and other things. The bangle/toy sellers have a hey day.It is a thrilling experience to see stalls loded with vases, pottery,local foods etc. People from far and wide converge and sing folksongs such as geetrus, pakhan in groups and play melodious tunes on flute. One finds oneself in an atmodphere of jubiliation and celebration all around-far away from worldly worries and tensions. Besides taking part in the mela,many devotees take bath in the holy rivulet and pay obeisance to various gods and goddesses in temples located on both side of Devika. The district administration makes elaborate arrangements to provide security, clean drinking water, medical facilities, uninterrupted power supply and other facilites at the mela site under the charge of a Mela Officer. NDRF/SDRF teams are there to deal with any emergency. Various departments such as Agriculture, Handicrafts etc and religious and social organisations also put up their stalls to aware the people about various schemes of the government and need to eradicate social evils. The Information Department also organises cultural programmes highlighting rich Dogra cultural heritage and to aware people about various social evils and need to eradicate them.Many artists from and outside the state converge in large number to sing folk songs and perform dances, which mesmerise the viewers.A grand free style wrestling match(Dangal)is organised generally,one day after the concluding day of the Mela,which attracts famous wrestlers from within and outside the state.A large number of people assemble to witness the bouts of wrestling between the famous wrestlers and give the winners huge round of applause. But as the Melas conclude, the Mela sites and adjoining areas are littered with wrappers, plastics and other biodegradable and nonbiodegradable things.
Therefore,It is the duty of one and all that the sites of these melas are cleared of all the plastic material and other garbage and donot pose problem to environment. Moreover, at Udhampur people throw a lot of materials into the rivulet Devika ,thus polluuting it. The Government of India has already approved Rs 170.54 crores plan for cleanliness and preservation of Devika under National River Conservation Plan and it is hoped that the amount sanctioned will be properly utilized for the cleanliness and purification of Devika and its tributary Doodh Ganga. But unless people change their mindset and stop throwing garbage in it, the efforts of the government aimed at cleaning this holy rivulet of faith cannot achieve the desired results.
Thus,Udhampur is famous for various fair and melas which serve to fulfil the social,economic and religious needs of the people. These fairs and melas serve the twin purpose of preservation and transmission of our rich cultural heritage to the posterity on the one hand and provision of platform to the people and budding artists to come together, foster close interpersonal bonds and display their talents on the other hand. So,we must be proud of our rich and diverse culture and everybody must take some time off from his/her hectic and mechanical life and take part in such Melas to have a glimpse of our rich culture and heritage from close quarters. Children should also be encouraged to participate in such melas so that they become conversant with our rich culture and learn to appreciate, follow and preserve it it. These Melas also help to improve the economy of the region. Thus, it is important that sincere efforts are made to provide facilities such as upgradation of roads, provision of regular power/water, toilet facilities, construction/upgradation of bathing ghats, development of recreational parks etc. at these scenic spots having religious importance in order toattract more visitors and boost the local economy. After holy Devika is cleaned and conserved under the National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) , it is expected that more tourists and devotees will visit this place to have a dip in the holy water and participate in large number in Baisakhi Mela.
(The writer is serving as lecturer in English in Govt Hr.Sec.School (Boys) Udhampur)
Moungri Mela
Ashok Sharma , The Moungri Mela "Daily Excelsior" 14/5/2017
Jammu & Kashmir, is known for various fairs and melas such as Jhiri Mela, Bahu Mela, Hemis Gompa Mela, Bhaderwah Mela, Baisakhi Mela etc. which attract thousands of people and bear testimony to the priceless and multifaceted cultural heritage passed on to us by our wise forefathers.
So far the Duggar region is concerned,fairs and melas have been organised in Duggar region since ancient times, which add colour and vibrancy to our everyday mundane life. One of the famous Melas of Udhampur, which attracts thousands of visitors from within and outside the state is the Moungri Mela. This 3-day famous Mela is organised with religious fervour and gaiety every year on the eve of first Jyeshth and lasts till the 3rd Jyeshth,which generally falls in May-June,at Sar Dabbar at a distance of 51 Kilometers from Udhampur,nestled in the pictursque and salubrious environs in the lap of nature at the confluence of two streams in block and tehsil Moungri in District Udhampur in the midst of tall mountains endowed with matchless and pristine beauty.
‘Sar’ means ‘a lake’ such as’Surinsar,Mansar,Dalsar etc.It is believed that this place was once a lake the water of which was drained leaving the vast stretch of land (Dabbar) behind.A large no of people from Moungri,Panchari,Udhampur and other regions of our state and outside throng Sar Dabbar during the Mela to pay obeisance to Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati and other deities in the natural caves having a naturally formed nine and a half ft.Lingam guarded by Sheshnag and stone manifestations of Damru, Nandi and countless other deities worth seeing at the site of the Mela in Moungri which is also the abode of widely reverred Kansar Devta. The Mela organised under the overall control of Mela Officer,attracts a large number of local artists and cultural troupes from other parts of the state, who play melodious tunes on their flutes, present folk songs and dances such as kud,geetru,bhakhan etc. and leave the visitors mesmerised and spell bound.The local people, wearing colourful Dogra attire, and leaving behind their household chores,can be seen trekking in groups to the mela site.It appears as if one has come into another world of colours and joy.
Various Government departments also put up their stalls to aware the people about welfare and people friendly schemes launched by the Central and the State government. Sports such as Kabaddi, tug of war,stone lifting and other fun filled activities are also organised with the active participation of the Department of Youth Services and Sports in collaboration with other departments. An Indian style wrestling match (Dangal ), arranged under the patronage of Shiv Kumar Sharma, President J&K Indian Style Wrestling Association, generally on the second or the concluding day of the Mela, is the star attraction of the Mela.
A large number of famous wrestlers from within and outside the state take part in the Dangal to prove their mettle at the Dangal, which is witnessed by a large number of people.Shopkeepers set up temporary shops of sweets,bangles, toys, food items etc and have a brisk business.District Administration Udhampur plays an important role in the successful organisation of this Mela. Besides providing other facilities,the District administration arranges additional buses to the Mela site to cater to the demand of heavy rush of people for the Mela.The District administration also makes elaborate arrangements of drinking water, security, power, sanitation, control on rates of various items etc to ensure that people donot face any problem at the Mela.A free langar is also organised for the devotees during the Mela.This year,the Mela is being organised from 14th May to 16 th May and the Dangal will be organised on 16th May,2017.The District administration,Udhampur and The Lord Shiva-Parvati Caves Shrine(Moungri) Development Board have made an earnest appeal to the people of the state in general and Udhampur district in particular to visit the caves and have the blessings of the Deities on one hand and explore the pristine beauty of Nature at its best.
Thus,this Mela serves to fulfil the social,economic and religious needs of the people of Moungri,Panchari and other regions of our state. Like other fairs, this Mela also serves the twin purpose of preservation and transmission of our rich cultural heritage to the posterity on the one hand and provision of platform to the people and artists to come together,foster close interpersonal bonds and present an excellent example of communal harmony and unity in diversity.So,everybody must take some time off from our fast and mechanical life and take part in such Melas to have a glimpse of our rich culture and heritage from close quarters. It is important that sincere efforts are made to provide facilities such as upgradation of roads,provision of regular power/water,toilet facilities,construction of bathing ghats,development of recreational parks etc.to this scenic spot having religious importance .Moreover,this site needs to be promoted as a rural tourist spot to attract more tourists,especially in the summer season when the pollution free atmosphere and salubrious climate of Panchari and Moungri provides a much needed relief and pleasant escape from the scorching heat of the plains and cities.
Advocate Swatantar Dev Kotwal,who is the Chairman of Lord Shiva-Pavati Caves Shrine (Moungri)Development Board and who played a significant role in discovering this cave first on September 14,1998 ,said that Moungri needs to be developed as tourist and religious spot as more than 50000 devotees visit this cave every year during the Mela and the number of visitors is surgng every year.He demanded construction of shelters at the Mela site to protect the people from rain and heat .He also demanded that Department of Tourism should take steps to promote this region as a tourist spot and include this Mela in the Annual calender of activities undertaken by the Department to boost tourism in this region.
He said that tourist huts and inns need to be constructed so that the tourists can have a nice and memorable stay there.He also demanded upgradation of the path with fencing from the Mela site to the holy caves and development of a park at the Mela site.He said that adventure tourism has a vast potential in Moungri and Panchari and aleady trekking activities are organised by Tawi Trekkers,Jammu from Moungri to Mantalai via Sankri and Nathatop.He highlighted the need of developing view points at Kainthgali,Panjar and other places to enable the tourists to have a breathtaking view of lofty mountains,misty in monsoon and snowcapped in winter.Mr Kotwal also demanded the establishment of a permanent Wrestling Akhara with suitable infrastructure to explore and tap huge wrestling talent and skill in the region as the sport of wrestling is highly popular in Panchari-Moungari region.
Hans Raj Thakur,President of the Board said that as the cave is located at the confluence of two streams,waterfalls and artificial lake should be developed to attract the visitors throughout the year. In view of the cool climate of this region almost like that of Kashmir Valley,trees such as Chinar,Deodar etc should also be planted in large numbers along the road and in the whole of Moungri and Panchari belt to give a boost to the local tourism and economy.Moreover this region has a vast potential for floriculture and horticulture sectors .Therefore awareness camps need to be organised for the local farmers to aware them about the latest schemes related to floriculture and horticulture and motivate them to adopt these sectors to add to their income.
Mr. Kotwal and Mr Thakur appreciated the District administration, Udhampur for extending all cooperation for the successful organisation of Moungri Mela every year.They also urged the Union and the State government to provide liberal funds for the development of this region which has huge tourist potential and religious importance. People ought to take some time off their hectic and mechanical life to participate,alongwith their children,in the Moungri Mela to have blessings of Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati and other deities as also to expose their children to rural life and watch our rich cultural heritage from close quarters and enjoy the natural environs and matchless beauty of Moungri and Panchari and make it a memorable experience of their life.
(The writer is serving as lecturer in English English, in Govt.Hr.Sec, School (Boys) Udhampur)
The land of natural springs
Chander M. Bhat, The land of natural springs "Daily Excelsior" 21/2/2016
Udhampur popularly known as ‘the land of Druva’ ,‘the land of Bowli’s’ and land of Devika, Headquarter of District, is named after Raja Udham Singh, the eldest son of Maharaja Gulab Singh, the founder of Dogra rule in Jammu and Kashmir. The town is said to have been built in place of dense forest where Udham Singh occasionally went on hunting trips till he developed great love for the spot and choose it as site for township. District Udhampur lies between 32 degree 34 minutes to 39 degree 30 minutes North Latitude and 74 degree 16 minutes to 75 degree 38 minutes East Longitude.
The altitude of District Udhampur varies from 600 meter to 3,000 meter above sea level. The District is situated in the South-Eastern part of Jammu and Kashmir State and is bounded in the West by Rajouri District, in North-East by Doda District, in the South-East by Kathua District and in the South-West by Jammu District. Udhampur is also known as Devika Nagari
Total population of Udhampur town is 116727 souls as per census of India and the area of Udhampur city is about 6 square km. Udhampur city abounds with a number of natural springs locally known as Bowli. The water of these Bowli’s is hot in winter and cold in summer. Maximum population of Udhampur in the wee hours goes to these Bowli’s for having a refreshing bath and also takes water from these Bowli’s for drinking purpose as it is said that the water of Bowli is good for digestion. Temples, shady trees, big rocks, peepal trees, etc are usual accomplices of these Bowli’s, where Hindus pay their obeisance, kneel down in prostration and have ablations.
There is a cluster of eight Bowli at Devika Temple. Each Bowli has its own significance. Three Bowli has been earmarked for bathing purposes and others are used for temple use. The water of these bowli is being offered to Lord Shiva by the people and one can see a huge rush of devotees in morning hours. A grand fair is being held at Devika on the eve of Baisaki which lasts for two and a half day. People from far off places from Jammu region participate in this fair. There is an ancient Shiva Temple on the bank of holy Devika. On the days of Soma Amavasi and Baisaki a large of number people from Udhampur and adjoining villages throng this shrine for having a dip in the Holy Devika.
Bowli at Devika Temple
Devika shrine has the unique distinction of enjoying the esteem of every community alike. Pilgrims make their way towards this shrine in good numbers belonging to different races and ethnic groups. They wish to pay obeisance and get their wishes fulfilled.
There is a natural spring at village Londana near Battal Ballian in Udhampur and people suffering from skin ailments are being cured after having a dip in the spring. It is believed that this is due to shrine Shakti of Baba Londana. But scientifically the water has been seen to have sulpher smell.
Billan Bowli : This bowli is situated behind Head Post Office Udhampur. There is a Shiva Temple in front of this bowli. The water of this bowli is crystal clear and is good for digestion. People residing near this bowli use the water of this spring for drinking purposes. The name of this locality is also known as Billan Bowli Mohalla.
Kallar Bowli : This bowli is situated near Kallar on the western side of Udhampur on Dhar Road. There is a Shiva Temple adjacent to this bowli. Lust green water is oozing from the hill and the same is being stored in a pond build in the year 1953 by the residents of this locality.
Khartairi Bowli : This bowli is situated at Sangoor, Barrian. One can also reach this bowli via Udhampur by pass road. There are two Bowli’s one is covered and other one is open. The open one gets the water from the hillside. There is a Chinar tree in the compound of this temple. There is a Shiva Temple in the area of this bowli and the area comprises of about three kannal of land.
Mian Bagh Bowli : This bowli is situated on the left side of Air Force road. An ancient Shiva temple is also situated the complex of this bowli.
Ratairi Bowli : This bowli is situated on railway road near pump station, Udhampur.
Saken Bowli: Sakan in Dogri means the relationship between two wives of a person. These bowlis are situated near Udhampur railway station. The origin of these bowlis is one outlet from the bottom of the hill and the water is being diverted into two ponds equally.
Sansu Bowli: This bowli is situated near Supply Morh Udhampur enroute Pancharisome 4 km from Udhampur city. There is a shiva temple on the side of this spring.
Mongu Di Bowli: Mongu Di Bowli is situated near Devika Ghat and the bowli has been constructed by a pious person named Mangu in the year 1941. The same person also constructed a big pond at village Panthal enroute Katra and the pond has been named after him as Mongu da Talab.
Repository of Dogra Culture
Ashok Sharma , Repository of Dogra Culture "Daily Excelsior" 12/2/2017
Culture is the way of life of a group of people of a particular region. It includes the collective knowledge, beliefs, ideas, customs, etc. of the people of that region. Dogras, who inhabit the Duggar region in our State,have a rich culture of their own. They have their own beliefs, mores, folksongs, folkdances, folklores etc which they have practised since times immemorial. But the modern fast life, globalisation and exposure of the youth to the western culture has influenced the Dogra culture a lot. A large no of people, especially the youth are losing charm for our rich culture. Amidst all this,the people of Udhampur district have withstood this change to a large extent and practised and preserved Dogra culture in such a way that it can be called the repository of Dogra culture.In Udhampur, folk dances such as Kud, Geetrus etc. are still in vogue in many regions, especially in the hilly areas. We have famous folk dancers in Udhampur for performing the folkdance called Kud.They have popularised this dance in our state as well as at national and international level.Similarly,some talented and devoted artists of Ramnagar are doing a yeoman’service to preserve Dogra culture by presenting geetrus on various social and religious occasions.They also perform on national and other days in and outside Udhampur.
Traditional sports and games, which were an important part of our culture,too are given prominence in Udhampur.In Udhampur. We have traditional games such as wrestling, kabaddi., santolia, etc. which are highly popular in Udhampur. Indian style wrestling matches (Dangal) are organised on the eve of various fairs and melas such as Baisakhi fair, Moungri Mela, Shankri Mela and other occasions across Udhampur district. Thousands of people attend these competitions and applaud the wrestlers who converge from across the country to take part in these matches. The traditional marriage rituals, which are fast vanishing from the Dogra marriages, are still alive in many parts of Udhampur district, especially in remote and farflung areas. We have traditional marriage rituals such as Jagranas and marriage songs called ‘Suhaags’ and ‘Kourians’ and many other such rituals well practised in Udhampur than, perhaps in any other region of the State. Dogras are primarily religious people, who have profound belief in deities, saints and the people who sacrificed their lives for the sake of justice. They are eulogised by Dogras and their history and sacrifices are praised and sung in the form of Kaarkans, Baaraans, Bhaakhans etc.Jaatars are organised at the abode of Kuldevtas to make sacrifices, instal Kuldevtas or celebrate the birth of child or marriage of son.Kaarkans and Jaatar are well preserved and practised in Udhampur than perhaps in other regions of the state.Melas and fairs having economic, religious and social significance are an important part of Dogra culture.Various melas and fairs are held in Udhampur to add colour and vibrancy to the monotonous life. We have Moungri Mela, Sankri Mela, Gole Mela and Baisakhi Mela at Udhampur, Barmeen, Ramnagar. Then a grand three day Mela is organised at the pictursque spot of Sudhmahadev on the eve of full moon day of Saavan in June/July every year.In Ramnagar, melas are held at Dalsar, Gandhtop, Shivgali, Guraang etc.on various occasion. Various shrines and temples such as ISKCON temple, Pingla Mata, Marhara Mata, Vasuki Mandirs, Sharda Mata etc. are visited by people in large numbers on important religious days to seek blessings of various Deities.
Dress is also an integral part of the culture of a region. So far the Dogra dress is concerned, a good no of people practise Dogra dress, according to the climatic conditions, especially in hilly areas.Dogras wear simple dress such as ghuttanas, suthan, having many folds.They used to wear ghuttanas and long overcoat with a traditional turban called ‘safa’ . Women used to wear ‘Suthans’ having many folds or pleats. Many elderly people, especially in the upper reaches of Udhampur still wear this dress. Udhampur is, in fact,the land of true colours of Dogra culture and ethos consisting of various mores, beliefs, folklores etc.People in Udhampur are deeply connected to their culture. They celebrate traditional festivals such as Baisakhi, Lohiri, Rakshabandan, Minjaraan rade, Dhrubri, Ohoi Ashtami, Nag Panchami, Shivratri, Janamashtmi etc with great enthusiasm and religious fervour. People of Udhampur have strong belief in folk lores such as geetrus, gasaitan, gagail,masadde, etc.which reflect our varied culture and belief.They adhere to their traditions and beliefs and participate in these folklores wholeheartedly in large number.
Food is an important part of the culture of a region.Dogra food is another aspect of Dogra culture,which bear testimony to the people’s liking for this food.Traditional foods such as Madra, Kiur, Tarad, Katriar, Desi ghee, Matha, Maani Sakaran, Suchian, Chile etc are savoured and appreciated in Udhampur and in many rural areas. Food prepared in ‘daans’over wooden fuel on the eve of marriages, mundans, bhandaras and other occasions,is still practised in rural areas and cherished by one and all. Traditional food such as ‘Makki ka Toda’ and Sarson ka Saag’ is cherished and the cakes from the maize flour are prepared from the traditional water mills called gharats in many regions. There is a large number of ghrats on the banks of rivers and streams in Udhampur even in this age of fast life and technology. Dogra jewellery is much in vogue in many rural areas of Udhampur. Since times immemorial, Dogras have believed in serving the parents and elders with due respect and reverence and for this purpose, joint family system came into existence. This joint family system is still in vogue in many parts of Udhampur district, which ensures that elders are looked after properly and the youngers are treated with love and affection to ensure their holistic development and growth. Thus, the Udhampur district is serving as an oasis of Dogra culture in the whole state but the young generation is not taking much interest in conservation and transmission of our rich culture.
Thus there is need to take steps to promote Dogra culture.For this purpose, it is imperative that folk dances, folksongs, folklores etc are prominently sung and displayed on religious and social occasions. Dogri songs and Dogra artists should be encouraged at block, tehsil, district and provincial level on eve of cultural programmes related to National Days. Programmes based on Dogra culture, on the pattern of ‘Display Your Talent’ need to be organised at school level. There is also a need to launch ‘Duggar Channel’ which should be exclusively devoted to telecasting programmes related to Dogra culture , which can help a lot in promotion and preservation of this rich culture in Duggar region.
(The writer is serving as Lecturer in English in Govt.Hr.Sec.School (Boys) Udhampur)
