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ROOTS, RECONNECTEDA cultural experience for rediscovering Uttarakhand across generations Ta t a E l x s i I G N I T E D e s i g n C h a l l e n g e 2 0 2 6 T h e m e : Re c o n n e c t to Ro o ts - D e s i g n i n g S t ro n g e r B o n d s Ac ro s s G e n e ra t i o n s ABOUT Uttarakhand is often represented through its mountains, temples, festivals and scenic landscapes. However, its culture exists far beyond these visible symbols. It lives in family recipes, languages, songs, rituals, objects, stories, skills and everyday practices passed from one generation to another. As younger Pahadi generations increasingly study, work and live away from their ancestral communities, these everyday cultural connections can become less frequent and less meaningful. Roots, Reconnected explores how design can create contemporary ways for young Pahadi people to rediscover their culture through meaningful interactions with elders, families and local communities. The Challenge RECONNECT TO ROOTS The Tata Elxsi challenge asks designers to explore ways of reconnecting people with their family roots, relatives, traditions and cultural heritage in a world where families are increasingly dispersed and meaningful interactions are becoming harder to maintain. The opportunity is not only to preserve memories, but to create new reasons for people across generations to interact, share knowledge and experience their heritage together. Research Goal The research aims to understand how young Pahadi people relate to their cultural identity today and what prevents cultural knowledge from being naturally passed between generations. The study explores Uttarakhand's cultural practices, everyday life, traditions and forms of knowledge alongside the changing experiences of younger generations. The goal is to identify opportunities where culture can become something young people actively experience and share, rather than something they only recognise or consume. WHAT ARE WE TRYING TO UNDERSTAND? What prevents meaningful cultural conversations between generations? How do young Pahadi people define their relationship with their culture? What cultural knowledge is primarily carried by parents and grandparents? Which cultural practices are still actively experienced by younger generations? Where do young people currently discover or learn about their culture? What could motivate young people to actively rediscover and participate in their heritage? How are migration, urbanisation and digital lifestyles changing cultural participation? Secondary Research Uttarakhand Is Not One Homogeneous Culture The cultural landscape of uttarakhand consists of distinct regional and community identities. Gharwal Kumaon Jaunsar-Bawar Other Communities This study also acknowledges Van Gujjar pastoral communities, trans- Himalayan Bhotia communities, and Raji people (a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group) as distinct communities within Uttarakhand's cultural landscape. Garhwal Garhwal takes its name from the many garhs (forts) that once marked its terrain. The Garhwali identity is shaped by proximity to four sacred rivers Ganga, Yamuna, Alaknanda, and Bhagirathi and the four major pilgrimage dhams that draw millions of visitors each year. But everyday Garhwali life exists at a remove from this pilgrimage economy in small terraced farms, slate-roofed stone homes, seasonal grazing patterns, and an oral tradition rich with the poetry of Pandava legends. L a n g u a g e Garhwali (Pahari family) P e r f o r m a n c e Pandav Nritya / local forms S ta p l e c r o p s Mandua, Jhangora, Gahat D e i t y Nanda Devi (regional goddess) Kumaon Kumaon has a distinct cultural identity from Garhwal despite both falling within Uttarakhand. The Kumaoni language, folk art forms, and ritual calendar differ substantially. Historically, the Chand dynasty ruled Kumaon, leaving behind a rich legacy of temples, brass-craft traditions and artistic patronage. A i pa n — F o l k A r t o f K u m a o n Drawn by women on thresholds, floors and walls using red (geru) and white (rice paste), Named Aipan forms are associated with particular rituals, thresholds and occasions. Meanings and contemporary practice should be documented with makers. L a n g u a g e Kumaoni (Pahari family) F o l k d a n c e Jhora, Chancheri C r a f t Aipan, Ringaal, Brass-work D e i t y Golu Devta (justice god) Jaunsar-Bawar Jaunsar-Bawar is not a synonym for Garhwal. Located mainly around Chakrata, Kalsi and Tyuni in Dehradun district, the region has its own Jaunsari language and community- specific practices that require separate documentation. Wood-and-stone houses, woollen clothing, seasonal performance and community institutions appear in published accounts. Their names, meanings and present-day use should be validated village by village rather than treated as universal. L a n g u ag e Jaunsari (separate from Garhwali) A r c h i t e c t u r e Wood-and-stone forms D r e s s Regional woollens and jewellery document by occ