Folklore for Religious usage of Plants in Kumaon Region of Himalaya

Abstract

In Himalayan region of Uttarakhand State of India, there is a diverse variety of medicinal plant which are frequently used by local people on different ceremonial practices. They commonly use the name of these plants in folklore. The religious activities and rituals in Kumaon region served as a living museum of cultural practices, leading to the conservation of traditional knowledge and the conservation of plants of Kumaon region. These rituals are woven in the lives of people traditionally from generation to generation. The present study aimed to explore the information about the use of various plant parts in the traditional folklore. A total of eight folklore based on six religious plants were selected from documented 104 plants during the field survey i.e. Pati (Hay fever weed), Ganna (Sugarcane), Gehun (Wheat), Doob, Supari and Flowers. These plants are traditionally well used in the rituals and Havan in Kumaon region. During the study, it was also observed that in the last three decades some changes have come in the method of usage of important religious plants in the performance of various rituals and ceremonies of the region.