List of Uttarakhand state symbols

Location of the State of Uttarakhand in India

The following is a list of symbols of the Indian state of Uttarakhand.

Official state symbols

Type	Symbol	Description	Adopted	Image	Source
Animal	Alpine musk deer (Moschus chrysogaster)	The Alpine musk deer is a musk deer species of the Moschidae family native to the Himalayas. It is named for having an externally visible musk sac between male testes. The Alpine musk deer inhabits coniferous and deciduous forests in the mountain regions of the Himalayas at elevations of 3,000–5,000 m (9,800–16,400 ft). Due to poaching and smuggling for its musk, which is used in cosmetic products and Asian medicine, it has become an endangered species.	2001
Bird	Himalayan monal (Lophophorus impejanus)	The Himalayan monal is a bird in the pheasant family, Phasianidae. Its native range extends throughout the Himalayas. It lives in upper temperate oak-conifer forests interspersed with open grassy slopes, cliffs and alpine meadows between 2,400–4,500 m (7,900–14,800 ft), where it is most common between 2,700–3,700 m (8,900–12,100 ft). It descends to 2,000 m (6,600 ft) in the winter. In some areas, the species is threatened due to poaching and other anthropogenic factors.	2001
Butterfly	Common peacock (Papilio bianor polyctor)	The Common peacock is a species of butterfly in the family Papilionidae. It is native to the Indian subcontinent, found in the Himalayas from the foothills to 2,100 metres (6,900 ft). This species can be found in forests and other wooded areas. It can occur in suburban and urban areas if appropriate host plants are available.	2016
Day	Uttarakhand Day	Also referred to as Uttarakhand Divas, is celebrated as the state foundation day of Uttarakhand. It is observed annually on 9 November 2000.	2000	–
Emblem	Emblem of Uttarakhand	The Emblem of Uttarakhand is a Diamond Shield of white background and blue borders supported by the stylized mountain peaks of the Himalayas with four streams charging from the left to right. The National Emblem of India is superimposed on a small red background on its crest with the national motto in Devanagari, "सत्यमेव जयते" (Satyameva Jayate, Sanskrit for "Truth Alone Triumphs") is presented below.	2000
Fish	Golden mahseer (Tor putitora)	Golden mahseer, also known as the Himalayan mahseer or Putitor mahseer is an endangered species of Cyprinidae family, that is found in rapid streams, riverine pools, and lakes in the Himalayan region. Its native range is within the basins of the Indus, Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers. It is a popular gamefish, once believed to be the largest species of mahseer, and can reach up to 2.75 m (9.0 ft) in length and 54 kg (119 lb) in weight. It is threatened by habitat loss, habitat degradation and overfishing, and it already has declined by more than an estimated 50%. This omnivorous species is generally found near the surface in water that ranges from 13 to 30 °C (55–86 °F).	2001
Flower	Brahma Kamal (Saussurea obvallata)	Brahma Kamal is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. It is native to the Himalayas, found at an altitude of around 4,500 metres (14,800 ft). Flowers bloom in mid-monsoon (July–August) amongst the rocks and grasses of the hillside at an altitudinal range of 3,000–4,800 metres (9,800–15,700 ft). In Hindu epics, this flower is attributed to Brahma, the God of creation, hence named Brahma Kamal (Brahma's Lotus).	2001
Instrument	Dhol	Dhol is a double-headed, drum-like membranophone used primarily in traditional Uttarakhandi folk music. It is used in religious and cultural ceremonies of Uttarakhand.	2015
Language	Hindi Sanskrit	Hindi belonging to the Indo-Aryan languages is the official language of Uttarakhand and is spoken by 89.15% of the population (2011 census figure includes Garhwali spoken by 23.03%, Kumaoni spoken by 19.94% and Jaunsari spoken by 1.35% of the population as variants of Hindi). Sanskrit is given the status of second official language.	2010	–
Motto	Satyameva Jayate (Truth Alone Triumphs)	The state shares the national motto of India.	2000	–
Song	Uttarakhand Devabhumi Matribhumi (Uttarakhand, Land of the Gods, O Motherland!)	The state song of Uttarakhand is a hymn, praising Uttarakhand as a divine motherland. Written by Hemant Bisht and composed by noted Uttarakhandi folk singer and musician Narendra Singh Negi, this song is trilingual with first three of its seven verses written in Hindi, while the last four verses are written in Garhwali and Kumaoni languages.	2016	–
Sport	Football	Association football, commonly known as football is the most popular sport in Uttarakhand. Football in Uttarakhand is administered by the Uttarakhand State Football Association and has its own men's and women's football team competing in Santosh Trophy and Senior Women's National Football Championship respectively. It also has a state-level professional football league.	2011
Tree	Burans (Rhododendron arboreum)	Burans is an evergreen shrub or small tree from the rhododendron genus of family Ericaceae. It is found in the highlands of Indian subcontinent. It can grow to 10–15 m (33–49 ft). In early and mid-spring, trusses of 15–20 bell-shaped flowers, 5 cm (2.0 in) wide and 3–5 cm (1.2–2.0 in) long are produced in red, pink or white. The juice of burans flower is used to make a squash called Burans Ka Sharbat in the hilly regions of Uttarakhand. It is admired for its distinctive flavour and colour.	2001

Unofficial state symbols

Type	Symbol	Description	Adopted	Image	Source
Banner	Banner of Uttarakhand	The Government of Uttarakhand can be represented by a banner displaying the emblem of Uttarakhand on a white field.	2000
Fruit	Kaphal (Myrica esculenta)	Kaphal is a bayberry tree or large shrub from the family Myricaceae. It is native to the Himalayas and found in hilly regions of Uttarakhand at elevations of 900–1,800 m (3,000–5,900 ft). It has a tree of medium height, about 6–8 m (20–26 ft) tall. Kaphal fruit is a globose, succulent drupe, with a hard endocarp. According to Ayurveda, it has two varieties based on the colour of flower: Shweta (white) and Rakta (red). Kaphal fruit has a legendary status in the folklores and songs of Uttarakhand.	Traditional
Nickname	Devabhumi (Land of the Gods)	Uttarakhand is often referred to as the Devabhumi (Sanskrit for "Land of the Gods") due to a large number of Hindu temples and pilgrimage centres found throughout the state.	Traditional	–
River	Ganges	The Ganges is the longest river of India which rises in the Garhwal Himalayas at Gomukh, Uttarakhand as Bhagirathi. The Ganges is one of the most sacred rivers to Hindus. It is worshipped in Hinduism and personified as the goddess Ganga. Har Ki Pauri at Haridwar attracts thousands of pilgrims to its waters to take a dip in the Ganges, which is believed to cleanse oneself of sins and help attain salvation. The rapids of the Ganges also are popular for river rafting in Rishikesh, attracting adventure seekers in the summer months. Ganges was declared the National River of India in 2008. The High Court of Uttarakhand declared the Ganges a legal person in 2017.	Traditional
Sweet	Bal mithai	Bal mithai is a brown chocolate-like fudge, made with roasted khoa, coated with white sugar balls. It is a popular sweet from Kumaon region of Uttarakhand, especially regions around Almora.	Traditional
Vegetable	Kandali (Urtica dioica)	Kandali, often known as common nettle or stinging nettle is a dioecious herbaceous perennial flowering plant in the family Urticaceae. It grows 1–2 m (3.3–6.6 ft) tall in the summer and dying down to the ground in winter. The leaves and stems bear many stinging hairs (trichomes or spicules), whose tips come off when touched, transforming the hair into a needle that can inject several chemicals causing a painful sting. Originally native to Europe, much of temperate Asia and western North Africa, it is now found worldwide. The plant has a long history of use as a source for traditional medicine, food, tea, and textile raw material in ancient societies.	Traditional

See also

• National symbols of India
• List of Indian state symbols