2025, Vol. 7, Issue 1, Part C

This study critically examines the symbiotic relationship between traditional commodities and the retention of local cultural rituals in Uttarakhand. Drawing on interdisciplinary frameworks from cultural anthropology, sustainable development, and heritage studies, it investigates the emerging issues—such as commoditisation, cultural homogenization, and policy neglect—that threaten the survival of place-based ritual knowledge systems. The paper further interrogates the role perspectives of key stakeholders, including indigenous practitioners, local governance institutions, civil society, and the tourism sector, in negotiating the preservation and reinvention of cultural expressions within contemporary socio-economic contexts.

Through a combination of field-based observations, policy analysis, and stakeholder interviews, the research underscores the need for a contextually grounded, participatory approach that revalorizes traditional knowledge systems while fostering resilience through cultural entrepreneurship, community-based resource management, and culturally sensitive development planning. The findings aim to contribute to the broader discourse on cultural sustainability in mountain regions and offer a replicable framework for safeguarding intangible heritage in similar socio-ecological settings.