Documentary on Nanda Devi Raj Jat Yatra released

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Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 15

Senior cultural artiste Vimal Bahuguna released a documentary film on the Nanda Devi Raj Jat Yatra at a function held at Srinagar in Pauri Garhwal yesterday. The over one-hour film, ‘’Nanda Dhayanee Bedai’’, containing seven new songs sung by renowned Uttarakhand folk singer Narendra Singh Negi takes viewers on an exotic journey in the Indian Himalayas.

A product of Himalayan Films, ‘’Nanda Dhayanee Bedai’’ documents the complete pilgrimage of Nanda Devi Raj Jat 2014 from village Nauti to Homkund. The shots of participants walking on glaciers, meadows and in lush green forests present a fairy tale like setting.

Bahuguna said, “The time demands the use of the internet and the social media for popularising folk culture among the new generation. The documentary film is also an effort in that direction.”

Cultural artist and researcher Nand Kishore Hatwal has penned the script of the documentary, while young filmmakers Govind Negi, Chandershekhar Chauhan and Harish Bhatt have done the camerawork.

Folk singer Narendra Negi said, “We have used a small portion of songs from Nanda Kishore Hatwal’s collection. This time we have recorded songs expressing sadness of Goddess Nanda about leaving her parental home. We will use other songs from Hatwal’s collection subject wise, as part of our effort to document folk songs of the Nanda Devi Raj Jat Yatra.”

Nanda Devi Raj Jat presents a mix of religious and adventure tourism and is considered Asia’s longest pilgrimage. Cultural artist and researcher Nand Kishore Hatwal said, “The documentary covers various aspects of Nanda Devi Raj Jat, including the pilgrimage of many other groups from other parts of Uttarakhand joining the main yatra.”

The audio of “Nanda Dhayanee Bedai” was relased last year and it evoked a good response from music lovers.