Every year in April, the twin villages of Saloor-Dungra in the state of Uttarakhand (northern India) celebrate a religious festival known as Ramman. During this festival, the tutelary god Bhumiyal Devta, a local divinity, is honored by the temple. This festival is a highly complex rite and includes recitation of the epic Rama and many legends, as well as singing and performance of masked dances. One of the most important festivals in Uttarakhand, the festival reflects the culture that has been well preserved by the local people.
The history of the festival is not well documented before 1911. However, the tradition itself existed well before that. Documentation available to the community indicates that the festival is well over a century old. The date for the festival and performance is traditionally set by the village priest and usually falls on the 13th of April every year. After the auspicious festival of Sankranti in the month of Baisakh, Bhumiyal Devta walks from his place of residence (which is one house in the village) through the village to the central temple for a procession accompanied by drumming and mask dances. =
As the name Ramman suggests, the festival is associated with the Hindu epic, Ramayana. The stories of the epic are retold with singing and masked dances by the local villagers. The unique characteristic of the festival is that all the village dwellers reunite with their roles, regardless of caste, creed, or status. The festival has 18 participants, dancing on 18 beats, and performing performances of 18 characters. This is done to celebrate the 18 Puranas. A ritual theatre takes place in the courtyard of the temple of Bhumiya Devta in Saloon Village. After a procession and the festival, the deity stays in the home of one of the village families, which is decided by the Panchayat. They must comply with a strict daily routine. These traditions of arrangements are more than simply appealing to the deities. Nonetheless, they are primarily a celebration by village residents before the summer months arrive and the harvest is underway. In a sense, it brings people together and shares their history and heritage.
As a multiform cultural event, the Ramman includes theater, music, historical reconstructions, and traditional oral and written tales. This celebration, recounting its founding myths and strengthening its sense of self-worth, is a multiform cultural activity. It reflects the community's environment, spiritual, and cultural responsibilities, and ensures the community's survival by promoting its transmission and obtaining recognition beyond the geographical area in which it is practiced.
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