Share your story and shine at JK Monitor!🌟 Welcome to JK Monitor, where every story matters and every achievement is celebrated! We invite you to share the remarkable journey of your life and showcase your accomplishments to the world. Join our exclusive interviews that honor exceptional individuals just like you. UDHAMPUR: In a vibrant celebration of the rich cultural heritage and agrarian traditions of Jammu, the month-long Dogra festival Rutt Raade commenced today at the Udhampur Campus (Garnai-Lotta) of the University of Jammu. This year’s festival coincides with the rare confluence of Somvati Amavasya and Mithun Sankranti, adding special significance to the occasion.
Dedicated to nature, agriculture, and community harmony, the festival spans an entire month, beginning on Aashaad Sankranti and culminating on Shravan Sankranti. It reflects the deep connection between the people of the region and the seasonal agricultural cycle.
The celebrations witnessed enthusiastic participation from local women, faculty members, non-teaching staff, and students of the Udhampur Campus. Participants created vibrant rangolis using natural, plant-based colours around the Raade—the necks of earthen pots in which seven different varieties of seeds are traditionally sown and nurtured throughout the month. These Raade symbolize fertility, hope, renewal, and agricultural prosperity.
Following the decoration of the Raade, participants shared traditional delicacies such as Rutt, Khamire, Kyuur, puddings, and other seasonal preparations, reinforcing the festival’s spirit of community bonding and cultural continuity. Women and young girls also presented devotional hymns and folk songs in praise of Mother Nature and local deities, filling the atmosphere with cultural fervour and reverence.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Yash Pal Sharma, Rector, Udhampur Campus, highlighted the multifaceted significance of the festival. Drawing from his personal experiences associated with Rutt Raade celebrations, he elaborated on its spiritual, cultural, philosophical, historical, socio-economic, and scientific dimensions, emphasizing its intrinsic link with environmental stewardship and sustainable living.
Prof. Sharma expressed concern over the declining awareness of traditional cultural practices among younger generations. He remarked that celebrating such festivals can inspire young people to reconnect with their cultural roots while fostering a deeper appreciation for nature and ecological harmony.
He further stated that a broader awareness campaign highlighting the significance of the Raade festival has been initiated among the masses under the patronage of Prof. Umesh Rai, Vice Chancellor, University of Jammu, to ensure the preservation and promotion of this invaluable cultural heritage for future generations.
Prof. Sharma also noted that the Raade festival was among the exhibits showcased during the cultural and literary festival “Sahitya-Sanskrit Samagam” organized by the University of Jammu. He urged policymakers to include such traditional festivals in the curriculum and syllabus of Dogri prescribed by the J&K Board of School Education as well as CBSE.
The festival was coordinated by Mrs. Taruna Dubey, Dr. Ritika Sambyal, Mr. Nikhil Khajuria, Dr. Sunita Kumari, Dr. Jyotishna, Dr. Prerna, Dr. Jyotsna, Amit, Ramesh, Kulbir Singh, Anil, along with the students, non-teaching staff of the Udhampur Campus, and residents of village Garnai-Lotta.
