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VOL. 11, ISSUE 1 (2026)
Himalayan botanicals in rituals: Sacred plants of Almora, Uttarakhand
Authors
Muskan Parveen, Tanuja Tiwari, K Chandra Sekar, Pooja Bhandari
Abstract
India’s large population and multicultural
traditions have created a rich heritage of plant worship, reflecting a deep
bond between people and nature. This tradition is powerful in Uttarakhand,
where plants hold a significant role in religious ceremonies, and people
believe plants and their derivatives possess spiritual and medicinal
properties. The traditional knowledge of using these plants in various rituals
and ceremonies has been transmitted through generations, contributing to their
conservation, as communities refrain from harming plants considered sacred.
However, modernization has resulted in a gradual decline in traditional
practices, with the new generations increasingly preferring plastic
alternatives. This study endeavors to revitalize these rituals and disseminate
knowledge of plants employed in these practices to younger generations, thereby
safeguarding cultural traditions and their associated benefits. In the present
investigation, 12 festivals were studied, during which a total of 40 sacred plants
were found to be used, many of which possess medicinal properties. These plants
belong to 24 different families. Among them, Poaceae showed the highest
dominance (8), followed by Fabaceae (6) & Arecaceae (3). The most commonly
used plant parts were leaves (20%), whole plants (18%) & seeds (12%).
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Pages:243-250
How to cite this article:
Muskan Parveen, Tanuja Tiwari, K Chandra Sekar, Pooja Bhandari "Himalayan botanicals in rituals: Sacred plants of Almora, Uttarakhand". International Journal of Botany Studies, Vol 11, Issue 1, 2026, Pages 243-250
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