Uttarakhand is a mountainous state in North India that lies between Nepal, Tibet,
Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh where many places of religious pilgrimage were
established over centuries. It is sometimes referred to as “Devbhumi,” or
Land of the Gods. Kumaon and Garhwal are the two major divisions of the state,
with residents speaking either the Kumaoni or Garhwali languages.

The singer Manoj Kumar hails from Pithoragarh district in Kumaon and sings in the
Kumaoni language. Music is an integral part of Kumaoni culture and the
Kumaoni Ram Leela has been declared as the oldest in the world, and has been
recognized in UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The song presented here comes from the Kumaon tradition and is one of the vanishing songs
of the region. It is from the tradition of wedding songs, more specifically
sung while the bride is getting ready for her wedding. The family sings songs
like the one we hear called “Dena Hoya” which is a ‘Shagun ka geet’ (auspicious song),
containing stories and tales from the childhood of the bride to be. The lyrics
mention her playing with her friends in the courtyard, butterflies in the garden,
and other nostalgic memories of her youth.