Cultural Documentation of River Ganga from Gaumukh to Gangasagar – Mirzapur District

This Namami Gange project is being undertaken for the Jal Shakti Ministry, Government of India, under the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) scheme. INTACH is assisting the Ministry in the capacity of a knowledge partner. Three divisions of INTACH namely; Natural Heritage (NH), Architectural Heritage (AH) and Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) divisions have been engaged in the cultural mapping project, of three aspects natural, tangible and intangible assets along Ganga.
The objective of the project is to conduct field investigation and document existing cultural assets on either side of the river Ganga (within a radius of 5Kms, starting from its source, i.e. Gangotri, down to its point of dispersal at Ganga Sagar) and to produce for the ministry a detailed, illustrated report based on the primary and secondary resources available.

Mirzapur District

Blessed with a fine cultural history, the area around Mirzapur, or Vindhyachal, is a lesser known gem adjoining Varanasi and Prayagraj. The study delineates the history, etymology and the gradual establishment of Mirzapur as an important trading centre of India via the river route,long before rail and road transport became the norm. The report also looks at its sacred complexes including the famous Vindhyavasini temple, and the rich living tradition of artisanship, with crafts like carpet weaving, brassware, shellac work, and Chunar pottery carving a unique niche for the region.

Although there are many popular opinions about its genesis, it is believed that the Kajri singing emerged primarily from Mirzapur. Birha and Laavani are also important folk song traditions here. Lorikayan is a popular folklore of the region and is sung with great emotion, usually in Bhojpuri. It is an oral tradition still prevalent among the people, primarily from the Ahir community, besides Gond, Dusadh, Teli, Kalavar, Kumhar, Mallah, Naai, Dhobi and Kherwar communities.

Check out more on the INTACH ICH Archive:
https://icharchive.intach.org/Detail/collections/81