Ramman is a unique religious and cultural festival celebrated in the village of Saloor Dungra in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, India. Held annually in April, the festival is a vibrant expression of the region’s oral traditions, rituals, music, dance, and local deities, and has been recognized by UNESCO as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Key Highlights:

Local and Ritual Significance:
Ramman is celebrated in honor of the village deity Bhumiyal Devta, who is believed to protect the land and its people. The festival marks the beginning of the new agricultural cycle and is deeply rooted in the spiritual and ecological traditions of the region.

Duration and Participation:
The festival spans several days and involves ritual performances, masked dances, folk plays, and narrative recitations. Every caste and community in the village has a specific role, making it a true collective tradition.

Cultural Performances:
Central to the Ramman festival are the dramatic enactments of episodes from the Ramayana, along with other folk tales. Performers wear elaborate costumes and masks representing gods, demons, and legendary heroes.

UNESCO Recognition:
In 2009, UNESCO inscribed Ramman on its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, acknowledging its cultural importance, community-based nature, and role in preserving traditional knowledge.

Preservation Through Practice:
Ramman is not organized by any external body but by the villagers themselves, handed down through generations. It represents a rare living tradition, preserved through oral transmission and local training.

Challenges and Sustainability:
With modernization and migration, there is concern about the dwindling participation of youth and the fragility of oral traditions. Efforts are being made by cultural organizations to document and support the festival.