Symbols of the Uttarakhand state

Symbols of the Uttarakhand state, a state of North India, also describe the identity associated with the state. Each country or state has its own emblem that identifies the cultural and natural heritage associated with it and its people’s identities.

Symbols of the Uttarakhand state

On 9th November 2000, Uttarakhand became the 27th state of the Republic of India. It was created from Uttar Pradesh. Most of the parts of this northern state are covered by Himalayan peaks and glaciers. After the formation of Uttarakhand, state symbols and aser state symbols were decided and declared in 2001.

Symbols of the Uttarakhand state are the animal Musk Deer, State Bird—Monal, State flower-Brahma Kamal, and State tree-Buransh, which were declared which are considered the property of the state. Their protection and nourishment are the paramount duty of the state government and all citizens of Uttarakhand state.

• State symbol – Below the Ashok Pillar, a series of three mountains, below which the streams of the Ganga
• State animal – Musk Deer
• State Language – Hindi and Sanskrit
• State flower – Brahma Kamal
• State tree – Buransh (Rhododendron)
• State Bird – Monal
• State Instrument – Dhol
• State Butterfly – Common Peacock
• State Song – Uttarakhand Devabhumi Matribhumi

In the symbols of the Uttarakhand state, a kite-shaped from a series of three mountains topped by the great pillar of King Ashoka with streams of the Ganga below, is conceptualised. This symbol is used in all the records of the Uttarakhand Government. The Emblem of Uttarakhand is the official state seal used by the Government of Uttarakhand and is carried on all official correspondence made by the State of Uttarakhand. It was adopted by the newly formed Interim Government of Uttarakhand at the establishment of the state on 9 November 2000.

State Language Of Uttarakhand: Hindi and Sanskrit

The official language of this state, separated from Uttar Pradesh, is also Hindi, but if we talk about the common language, not one or two but 13 Folk languages ​​are spoken here. Different forms of these languages ​​are seen. The languages ​​of Uttarakhand fall under the category of Pahari languages.

The languages ​​spoken in Uttarakhand can be divided into two major groups: Kumaoni and Garhwali, which are spoken in the state’s Kumaon and Garhwal divisions in 13 districts respectively. Due to the availability of many Sanskrit words in these two languages, they are considered to have developed from Sanskrit. Jaunsari and Bhotia (जौनसारी और भोटिया) are two other dialects spoken by the tribal communities in the west and north, respectively.

But the most prominent language of the state is Hindi. It is the official and working language of the state as well as the language of communication between the intergroup. Sanskrit is the second major official language of the state. Sanskrit has had the status of the second official language in Uttarakhand since January 2010.

State Tree Of Uttarakhand: Buransh (Rhododendron)

Buransh (बुरांश) (Rhododendron) is saturated with medicinal values; its botanical name is Rhododendron arboreum. The tree rhododendron, also known as Burans बुरांश or Laligurans or simply Gurans (गुराँश) in Nepal, is an evergreen shrub or small tree with a showy display of bright red flowers. It is found in Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Thailand. It is found at the height of 5000 feet in hills. Its average height is 20-25 feet; its main fascination is its bright red flowers.

At lower altitudes, its flowers are deep red, whereas at higher altitudes they become somewhat light red and at a height of 11000 feet, white-coloured flowers of Rhododendron are found. Exceptionally, somewhere at lower altitudes, white-coloured flowers are found too. Amid green leaves, the red flowers attract even from far. It blooms in bunches. It is useful in beverages or syrup made from its flowers. It is useful for heart patients. Flowers are used for making colour also. Because of the illegal felling of the Buransh plant/tree for fuel, it has been declared a conserved tree in the Forest Act, 1974.

State Flower Of Uttarakhand: Brahma Kamal

Declared as a state flower, called Kaul Padma (क़ौलपद्म) in the local dialect of Uttarakhand, Brahma Kamal (ब्रह्म कमल) is an evergreen plant of a rare species. It is named Brahma Kamal in the local dialect; its scientific name is Saussurea obvallata. It is found at heights of 3600 to 4500 meters in Kashmir, Middle Nepal, the Valley of Flowers in Uttarakhand, Kedarnath, Shivling Base, Pindar Glacier, etc.

Its height is 70-80 cm. It blooms between July and September. There are 24 species of Brahma Kamal in Uttarakhand, and in the whole world, there are 410 species of it. In its blooming time, the area is filled with fragrance. This rare flower is described in the Vedas, mythological Indian literature and the Mahabharat at various places.

In the ninth episode of the Mahabharat, this power is described as a fragrant flower. In the temples of Gods and Goddesses in some of the Himalayan regions, there are traditions of offering “Kaul Padma”. Because it is found in some of the Himalayan regions and offered in religious rites while worshipping, it is named Brahma Kamal. Its roots have medicinal value.

State Bird Of Uttarakhand: Monal

Known as the Himalayan Peacock, it is one of the most beautiful birds not only in Uttarakhand but also in the world. It is the national bird of Nepal and the state bird of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. It is found everywhere in the Himalayas from 2300 to 5000 meters in high, dense forests.

Monal’s (मोनाल) scientific name is Lophophorus impejanus. The bird, which is found in the northeast of Assam hills and in the high snow-covered mountains of Uttarakhand, is called Manyal (मान्यल) or Monal (मोनाल) in the local dialect. The male bird is of blue-brown colour and has a peacock crown on its head. The female bird is brown in colour. It eats roots, fruits, plants, flower seeds, and insects. Monal comes under such kinds of birds that are seen rarely even in places specially meant for them.

State Animal Of Uttarakhand: Musk Deer

It is a rare animal found in the Himalayan region and famous for its musk. Its scientific name is Moschus chryso-gaster. It is also known as the Himalayan Musk deer (कस्तूरी मृग). From ancient times, it has been used for medicinal purposes and scents. It likes to inhabit areas where there is no possibility of human interference.

Musk existing in its belly button specializes in this animal. Living up to the height of 2 to 5 thousand meters high mountains and snow-covered peaks for thousands of years. This musk deer has four species here. It has a brown coat spotted With black and yellow spots. The male deer has a little balled tail. It does not have horns. It has two long teeth curved backwards in its jaw used for self-defence and digging herbs and vegetation. It has four holes on each leg.

Musk develops after it has completed one year. Usually, one deer has 30 to 45 grams of musk in it. It is extracted from a gland near the genetic organ of a male below its belly. This extracted substance is collected in a pouch-shaped place existing below the belly skin. from this pouch, the musk is obtained. The scent made from musk is famous for its speciality. In the medical industry musk is used the medicines useful for; asthma, fir, brochures pneumonia, Typhoid, and heart disease.

Musk deer has a strong sense of smell, for this reason, it runs fast sensing impending danger. But the habit of turning back after running for 40-50 meters proved to be fatal for it. because of this, once it was found everywhere in the Himalayan region, now this animal is found only in Chamoli, Uttarkashi, and Pithoragarh districts in limited numbers. The sex ratio is decreasing rapidly because of the killing of male deer for musk.

For the Conservation of musk deer, the Uttar Pradesh Government established ‘Kasturi Mrig Vihar’ in Kedarnath under Wild Life Department in 1972. Its area is 1972. Its area is 967.2 square km. In 1982, under the Kedarnath Wildlife Department, the musk deer breeding centre was established in ‘Kanchula Karkha’. Likewise, the Askot Kasturi sanctuary) was established in Pithoragarh.

State Butterfly Of Uttarakhand: Common peacock

There are about 1300 species of butterflies in India, out of which 500 species are found only in Uttarakhand. Uttarakhand is called the home of butterflies; hence, Uttarakhand has included the Common Peacock (कॉमन पीकॉक) Butterfly as the state butterfly in its state emblems. Uttarakhand is the second state in India to do so. Earlier in 2015, Maharashtra included Blue Mormon (ब्लू मॉरमॉन) in its state emblem. To popularise and preserve the species of butterflies found in the hill state, the government has established two butterfly parks in the Garhwal (Dehradun) and Kumaon (Nainital) regions.

On November 7, 2016, the “Common Peacock” was chosen as the state butterfly at a meeting of the State Wildlife Board chaired by the then Chief Minister Harish Rawat.

Common Peacock’s scientific name is ‘Papilio bianor’. “Common Peacock Butterfly” derives its name from its peacock-like appearance. In India, it is found in the states of Himachal Pradesh, the North East, and Uttarakhand. Apart from India, it is found in China, Australia, and the Southern Himalayas. Also found in Asian countries. The Common Peacock is found at elevations over 7000 feet. The life of this beautiful butterfly is one and a half months. Its size is about 90 to 130 mm. This butterfly can be easily seen in the spring season from March to the beginning of winter in October. In 1996, the most amazing butterfly was given the title of Limca Book of Records.

State Instrument Of Uttarakhand: Dhol

Dhol and Damaun (ढोल दमाऊं) are the most ancient and popular musical instruments of Uttarakhand. They are also known as “Mars instruments”. They were initially used to create excitement among soldiers on the battlefield. From the battlefields, the dhol went into the social life of the Damauans. The auspicious works of the mountain were incomplete without the echoes of Dhol-Damaun (ढोल दमाऊं), the instruments of Uttarakhand. Dhol (ढोल) was declared the Uttarakhand State Instrument in the year 2015.

Dhol is included among the major musical instruments because it invokes deities. It is said that the Dhol Damaun is a traditional instrument used to invoke its God and Goddesses during prayer.

In the Garhwal region, specific musical caste groups like the auji, das, or dholi have historically played the dhol and damau, the two folk instruments of the region, at special occasions or religious festivals, according to the Dhol Sagar, an ancient treatise that was transmitted orally and by practical teaching.

State Song Of Uttarakhand: Uttarakhand Devabhumi Matribhumi

Uttarakhand Devabhumi Matribhumi (उत्तराखण्ड देवभूमि मातृभूमि शत शत वन्दन अभिनंदन) is the official state song of the Indian state of Uttarakhand. The song is written by Hemant Bisht and composed by noted Uttarakhandi folk singer and musician Narendra Singh Negi. This song is trilingual, with the first three of its seven verses written in Hindi, while the last four verses are written in Garhwali and Kumaoni languages.

On 6 February 2016, the song was officially announced as the state song, headed by the Council of Ministers of the Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat. The theme of this song is set to reflect the geography, ecology, fauna and flora, culture, festivals, music, food, art, and lifestyle of the people of Uttarakhand.

State Sport Of Uttarakhand: Football

The state sport of Uttarakhand is football. Football was given the status of state sport in the year 2011 by the Sports Department during the BJP rule. Football is the most popular sport in Uttarakhand. The game has produced many international players from the state, who have won many medals at the national and international level. That is why football was declared a state sport.

Association football, commonly known as football, is the most popular sport in Uttarakhand. Football in Uttarakhand is administered by the Uttarakhand State Football Association and has its own men’s and women’s football teams competing in the Santosh Trophy and the Senior Women’s National Football Championship, respectively. It also has a state-level professional football league.

Traditional Folk Art and Cultural Symbol of Uttarakhand: Aipan

Aipan is a traditional floor and wall art created using a red ochre (geru) base, on which designs are drawn in white rice paste, known locally as biswar. It is typically made on the thresholds of homes, worship spaces, courtyards, and wooden platforms (chowki) used during rituals. The word “Aipan” is believed to derive from the Sanskrit word “arpan,” meaning offering or dedication — reflecting its role as an act of devotion to the gods. The process of creating Aipan relies entirely on natural materials and generations of hand-passed skill:

• Base colour: The surface — floor or wall — is first coated with a paste of red ochre clay mixed with water, forming a deep reddish-brown background.
• Drawing material: Rice is soaked in water and ground into a fine white paste called biswar.
• Tool: Traditionally, the designs are drawn using fingertips or a small cloth-wrapped stick, without any sketching or measurement — guided purely by memory and practised skill.

In the Kumaon region, Aipan is considered an essential first step before any auspicious event. Before a puja, yagna, wedding, or festival, the women of the household draw Aipan at the entrance and worship area. It is believed that creating Aipan invites positive energy into the home and draws the blessings of the deities.

This art has survived largely through women — passed from mother to daughter, mother-in-law to daughter-in-law — as a living, practical tradition rather than a formally taught craft. In this way, Aipan has become woven into the collective cultural memory of Kumaoni society.

State Festival of Uttarakhand Celebrating Nature and Harvest: Harela

Among the many festivals celebrated in the hill state of Uttarakhand, Harela holds a special place as one of its most cherished and officially recognised state festivals. The word “Harela” is derived from the word hariyali, meaning greenery. The festival marks the onset of the monsoon season and is celebrated twice a year — the larger, more prominent celebration falls in the month of Shravan (mid-July), while a smaller version is observed around Ashwin (September–October). It is predominantly celebrated in the Kumaon region, though its significance has grown across the entire state.

In recognition of its cultural and ecological importance, the Uttarakhand government officially declared Harela as the state festival. Government offices, schools, and public institutions across Uttarakhand now observe the day with tree-planting ceremonies, cultural programs, and public awareness campaigns centred on environmental preservation and sustainable living.

The most distinctive tradition associated with Harela begins about nine to ten days before the actual festival. Five, seven, or nine types of seeds — including wheat, barley, maize, and pulses — are sown in small bamboo baskets or trays filled with soil, kept indoors away from sunlight. These saplings are watered daily and tended with care. By the day of the festival, the seedlings grow into thin, yellow-green shoots called Harela. Family elders cut these tender shoots and place them behind the ears or on the heads of younger family members as a blessing, wishing them prosperity, good health, and a bountiful harvest in the year ahead.

Unofficial state symbols of Uttarakhand

Apart from the official Symbols of the state of Uttarakhand, there are some other informal state symbols of Uttarakhand. People use them as symbols of the state, but officially they are not the symbols of the state of Uttarakhand, but these symbols are very famous, popular and unique things among people from somewhere that in Uttarakhand Are easily found, And it is also related to the geography, ecology, fauna and flora, culture, festivals, music, food, art and lifestyle of the people of Uttarakhand.

State Fruit Of Uttarakhand: Kaphal/Kafal

Kafal काफल (Myrica esculenta) is a popular mountain fruit. It is an evergreen tree found in the central Himalayan region. In the summer season, the fruit of the kaphal (काफल) tree is very tasty and looks like a mulberry, but it is very different from the mulberry. This kaphal plant grows in areas ranging from 1300 m to 2100 m (4000 ft to 6000 ft). It is mostly found in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, the northeastern state of Meghalaya, and Nepal. It is also called box myrtle and bayberry. It has a sour-sweet mixture in taste, and this wild fruit is beneficial for our bodies due to its antioxidant properties.

Uttarakhand State Nickname: Devbhoomi Uttarakhand

Uttarakhand is also known as Devbhoomi देवभूमि (Land of God) (भगवान की भूमि). Uttarakhand is often referred to as the Devabhumi (Sanskrit for “Land of the Gods”) due to the large number of Hindu temples and pilgrimage centres found throughout the state. A large number of Hindu temples and pilgrimage places are found mountain Himalayas area of Uttarakhand. Holy places of Hinduism, Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri (Char Dham) are also located in Uttarakhand. Devbhoomi Uttarakhand is also known for its natural beauty of the Himalayas, the Bhabhar (भाबर) and the Terai (तराई).

State Sweet Of Uttarakhand: Bal Mithai

Bal Mithai is a brown chocolate-like fudge, made with roasted khoa, and coated with white and red sugar balls. It is one of the popular sweets from the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand, especially regions around Almora. Almora’s Bal Mithai and Singoudi are famous all over the country.

State Vegetable Of Uttarakhand: Vegetable

In Garhwal division in Uttarakhand, Kandali (कंडाली) is known by many names like Kaldi Ala and Sisoun (काल्‍डी आला व सिसौण). In Hindi, it is called scorpion grass or scorpion herb. If any part of the body touches Kandali, then there will be tingling at that place for the next two days, but on the other side, Kandali greens are very tasty and full of medicinal properties.

State River Of Uttarakhand: Ganga River

The Ganges (गंगा नदी) is the most important river not only in Uttarakhand but also in India. It irrigates vast tracts from the Himalayas in Uttarakhand to the Sundarbans of the Bay of Bengal, covering a distance of 2525 kilometres in India and Bangladesh. Therefore, the river Ganges also has the status of a mother. The Ganges was declared the National River of India in 2008. The High Court of Uttarakhand declared the Ganges a legal person in 2017.

Here are some frequently asked questions about the symbols of Uttarakhand

These are some of the commonly asked questions about the symbols of Uttarakhand, focusing on its official emblems and their significance. If you have any specific queries or need more information, feel free to ask!