Link : https://x.com/kharge/status/2110583707220447308

Glimpses of Bhagwati Nanda’s Bikhwati Festival in Tapovan Ghati, Chamol

In Garhwali tradition, the month of Chaitra holds special significance ,Chaiti a custom of offering Samaun to married daughters and sisters, known as Dhyani/Disa. To fulfil this tradition, the Bhumiyal Devta journeys to Kailash to invite his sister, Goddess Nanda Devi, to her maternal home. The Bikhoti Kauthig follows, where Chaiti is offered to the Goddess before she returns to her sasural (marital home).

The festival also features deities adorned with traditional crowns, sacred dances performed to the rhythmic beats of the dhol and nagara, and offerings of sattu, which holds ritual significance in the Himalayan region. Since this region has historically been closely connected with Vaishnavism and its religious traditions, the influence of Ram Katha and Krishna Katha can be clearly observed in its folklore, performing arts, and cultural practices.

Bikhwati is a beautiful expression of Garhwal’s living Dev Sanskriti, preserving its ancestral traditions, sacred rituals, music, and cultural heritage.

Dushyant Kumar Gautam, who has been under the cloud of questions regarding the alleged VIP angle in the Ankita Bhandari murder case, has been appointed as the Governor of Sikkim during the tenure of the BJP government.

Ankita bhandari case:

19-year-old Ankita Bhandari, receptionist at Vanantra Resort (near Rishikesh), was murdered on the night of 18 September 2022.

She was killed after refusing pressure to provide special services to guests, including an alleged VIP.

Resort owner Pulkit Arya (son of then-BJP leader Vinod Arya) and two staff members -Saurabh Bhaskar and Ankit Gupta forcibly took her to the Chilla canal and pushed her in.

Her body was recovered on 24 September 2022. Cause of death: drowning with ante-mortem injuries.

All three were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment on 30 May 2025.

Resort demolition & distruction of evidence:

On the intervening night of 23–24 September 2022 (just after the accused were arrested and before the body was fully recovered/processed), bulldozers demolished parts of Vanantra Resort, including rooms and structures linked to the crime scene.

The family, activists, and some former officials alleged the hurried late-night demolition destroyed or compromised crucial forensic evidence (possible DNA, hair, biological traces, mattresses, CCTV, etc.).

Langvir Nritya - This folk dance of Garhwal region was once celebrated in a large area of Garhwal, but with the passage of time it has become confined to Uttarkashi and Tehri. This dance is performed by the men of Badi community who also call themselves Gandharva.

This dance is primarily performed during religious ceremonies and major festivals. It is also known as Lang Khelna. Whenever a religious ritual or ceremony associated with a devta, the family hosting the event traditionally arranges for this performance. They invite the Badis to perform the Lang dance.

The most distinctive feature of this dance is its unusual and physically demanding technique. A wooden pole, approximately 10ft + tall is used for the performance. The Badi performer balances the navel area of their abdomen on the uppermost part of the pole and spins around in circles, supporting and controlling the movement with their hands. The ability to rotate while balancing the body on the navel is the defining characteristic of this traditional performance.

Today, this dance has become increasingly rare and is seldom witnessed. However, it continues to be performed in certain areas of Uttarakhand, particularly in the Uttarkashi and Tehri regions, where it remains a significant part of the region's traditional performing arts and religious heritage.

Haatchaapa: A Traditional Wall Art of Chamoli, Uttarakhand

In Chamoli district,there is a traditional form of folk art used to decorate the walls of houses, known locally as Haatchhaapa. The name literally refers to impressions or designs made by hand.

Traditionally, this art form is created using rice flour mixed with water to form a paste. People use their fingers and hands to draw patterns and motifs on the walls, often incorporating hand impressions into the designs. Unlike many other forms of decorative art, Haath Chhaapa traditionally relies on rice flour alone,

This art is practised primarily during festivals, religious occasions, and other special ceremonies. It is generally created on the interior walls of houses rather than on exterior surfaces. Particular attention is given to areas surrounding the kitchen and other significant spaces within the home. The tradition is especially associated with traditional mud houses, where these white patterns stand out against the earthen walls.

Haath Chhaapa is practised across various parts of Chamoli district, although it is particularly prevalent in the Joshimath region and certain parts of Dasoli, including the Nagpur, the origins of this art form may be connected to the Mundas. I find this possibility plausible, particularly because similar forms of traditional wall art can be observed among other indigenous communities in India, including certain tribal communities in Chhattisgarh and among the Bhils. These similarities raise interesting questions about the origins, cultural connections, and historical development of such artistic traditions.

THE VIP involved in Ankita Bhandari Murder case, got a gift, by which he can now immune with Judiciary as well and can enjoy his rest of life.

True said:

"Someone hai to mumkin hai."