Ramman Festival:
The President of India was presented with a Ramman mask at a special session of the Uttarakhand Assembly.
- It is an annual religious festival celebrated in late April in the twin villages of Saloor-Dungra, Uttarakhand, in honour of the local deity Bhumiyal Devta.
- It features complex rituals, recitations of the Ramayana, songs, and masked dances, with each caste and group playing distinct roles.
- The performances include recitations of the Rama Katha(episodes from the Ramayana), combined with masked dances of deities and local legends, blending mythic and local narrative layers.
- It is held in the courtyard of the Bhumiyal Devta temple in Saloor Dungra,
- Entire village households contribute: roles are caste-based (priests, mask-makers, drum players), funding comes from the village, and participation spans elders to youth.
- It blends narration, masked dances, ritual drama, music, and mask craft into one integrated festival.
- 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.
- Some of the instruments documented include: Dhol(a type of drum) Damau (smaller percussion drum), Manjira (small hand cymbals), Jhanjhar (larger cymbals), Bhankora (a kind of trumpet).
- In 2009, Ramman was inscribed in the list of UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
