Culture
The culture of the present Garhwal is an amalgamation of influences from the indigenous population coupled with traditions superimposed by various immigrants, especially the Khas-Aryans, who settled in the region from time to time. And thus due to this the myths, dialects, languages, folk literature, festivals, fairs and forms of artistic expression, arts form the basis and the general essence of the character that Garhwali people generally possess. Culture and tradition of Garhwal is a little similar to that of the neighbouring regions of Himachal and Kumaun.
Garhwali people follow Hinduism along with a mix of traditional Garhwali Animism. Since the majority of the population of Garhwal consists of Brahmins, so the other castes also follow some or the other Brahmin traditions or at least have Brahmin influence in their own traditions. Due to this influence, Sanskrit is used freely in almost all the rituals of Pandits and non-Pandits .
As per Hinduism, Garhwalis relate every peak, lake or mountain range somehow or the other to God and Goddess, ranging from those associated with the Shaiva, Shakta and Vaishnava traditions, to local Gods like Mahasu, Sameswar, Bhairav, Nagraja, Narsingh, Khetrapal, Ghandiyal, Aachris, Dainkinis, Sainkinis etc. The protagonists of the epic Mahabharat, the Pandavas, are said to have ended their life on earth by ascending the slopes of a peak in Western Garhwal called Swargarohini – literally, the 'Ascent to Heaven'. They are worshipped at in Garhwal and just like the epic unfolds that the five Pandava brothers had a common wife similar tradition have been reported in some areas like Jaunsaar-Bawar and Rawaayien. Temples are dedicated to the nine famous Goddesses, other local Goddesses, Bhairava, Surya, Ganesh, Kandar devta, Bhagwati, Ghandiyal. The Char Dham or the four pilgrimage which are auspicious to the Hindus are all located in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand. There are many famous temples in and around various areas of Garhwal but most temples are dedicated to Shiva, Kalbhairav, Bhagwati, Ghandiyal, Nagraja, Narhsingh and Khetrapal.
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