Ramman Festival

Ramman Festival Latest News

Recently, the President of India was presented with a Ramman mask at a special session of the Uttarakhand Assembly.

About Ramman Festival

• 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. 
• In 2009, Ramman was inscribed in the list of UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

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Features of Ramman Festival

• It features complex rituals, recitations of the Ramayana, songs, and masked dances, with each caste and group playing distinct roles.
• Divine Storytelling: 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.
• Sacred Space: It is held in the courtyard of the Bhumiyal Devta temple in Saloor Dungra.
• Community Participation: Entire village households contribute: roles are caste-based (priests, mask-makers, drum players), funding comes from the village, and participation spans elders to youth.
• Transmission of Knowledge & Values: Oral transmission of epic songs, dance forms, and ritual lore across generations. 
• Fusion of Art Forms: 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).

Source: IE