Lore, Legends and Landscape of Uttarakhand: Exploring the Socio- Religious Significance of Golu Devta- God of Justice

Abstract

The present paper primarily points out the shifts in mythical stories by highlighting an old religious tale of one of the supreme regional deities of Uttarakhand especially the Kumaon and Garhwal region called Golu Devta, considered as the God of justice. Although the state has a fair amount of cities that are plush with all state-of-the-art amenities and crowds from other parts of the country, this could not take the people of Uttarakhand away from their roots and traditional values. There are different myths, legends and beliefs associated with Golu Devta regarding his birth, incarnation, ruling period and even of his death. The story has adapted unique forms as it went through places, beliefs, cultures and generations. This paper studies the variation of folk narratives of Golu Devta prevailing in Uttarakhand and looks forward to bringing into light the needs and reasons behind the shifts and adaptations across cultures and communities.