Uttar Pradesh — Culture,
Heritage & Language
Taj Mahal, Ayodhya, Kashi, Kumbh Mela
Introduction
Uttar Pradesh, the heartland of India, is the country's most populous state and one of its most historically and culturally significant. Home to Varanasi, Ayodhya, Mathura, Prayagraj and the Taj Mahal in Agra, it has shaped Indian civilization, religion, literature and politics for millennia.
Quick Facts
Capital
Lucknow
Largest City
Kanpur
Official Language
Hindi
Formation Date
24 January 1950
Area
243,286 sq km
Population
240,000,000+
Region
North
Type
State
Language
Hindi is the official language; Urdu enjoys additional official status. Regional dialects include Awadhi, Bhojpuri, Braj Bhasha, Bundeli and Kannauji — together they form the backbone of Hindi literature and folk traditi…
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Traditional Dress
Men traditionally wear kurta-pajama, dhoti-kurta or sherwani. Women wear sarees, salwar-kameez and lehenga-cholis. Lucknow's Chikankari embroidery is recognized globally.
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Festivals
Diwali is celebrated grandly in Ayodhya with Deepotsav; Holi in Mathura and Vrindavan draws devotees of Krishna; Prayagraj hosts the Kumbh Mela, the world's largest religious gathering; Eid is observed across the state.
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Cuisine
UP cuisine blends Mughal, Awadhi and North Indian flavors. Lucknow is a culinary capital famed for Galouti and Tunday Kebab, Lucknowi Biryani, Bedmi Puri, Tehri, Petha and Rabri.
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Literature
Munshi Premchand, Harivansh Rai Bachchan, Mahadevi Verma and Suryakant Tripathi 'Nirala' have shaped modern Hindi and Urdu literature from Uttar Pradesh.
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Art Forms
Kathak classical dance, Chikankari embroidery, Moradabad brassware, Banarasi silk weaving and folk traditions like Birha and Rasiya define UP's arts.
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Historical Importance
Center of the Mauryan, Gupta and Mughal empires and a key theatre of the freedom movement, with iconic sites like the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Fatehpur Sikri, Sarnath and Ayodhya.
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Districts & Cities
AgraAligarhAmbedkar NagarAmethiAmrohaAuraiyaAyodhyaAzamgarhBaghpatBahraichBalliaBalrampurBandaBarabankiBareillyBastiBhadohiBijnorBudaunBulandshahrChandauliChitrakootDeoriaEtahEtawahFarrukhabadFatehpurFirozabadGautam Buddha NagarGhaziabadGhazipurGondaGorakhpurHamirpurHapurHardoiHathrasJalaunJaunpurJhansiKannaujKanpurKanpur DehatKanpur NagarKasganjKaushambiKushinagarLakhimpur KheriLalitpurLucknowMaharajganjMahobaMainpuriMathuraMauMeerutMirzapurMoradabadMuzaffarnagarNoidaPilibhitPratapgarhPrayagrajRae BareliRampurSaharanpurSambhalSant Kabir NagarShahjahanpurShamliShravastiSiddharthnagarSitapurSonbhadraSultanpurUnnaoVaranasi