Wooden Architecture, Traditional Home & Way of Life

Homes in Dhatmeer are built using local deodar wood and stone, featuring intricate carvings and multi-tiered designs that reflect the classic Himalayan style. The architecture isn’t just aesthetic—it’s designed to withstand harsh weather, making it both beautiful and functional.
Villagers lead a self-sufficient lifestyle, depending on farming, cattle rearing, and forest produce. Their daily life reflects simplicity, harmony with nature, and deep-rooted family values.

Ancient Someshwar Mahadev Temple Rituals

Religion plays a central role in Dhatmeer’s cultural identity. The village is home to the ancient Someshwar Mahadev Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, which serves as the spiritual and social hub of the community. Rituals, seasonal pujas, and temple fairs are major events that bring villagers together.

Other than this there are many other temple which are dedicated to their specific deites. The villagers follow a blend of Hindu rituals and animistic beliefs, often worshipping local deities known as “Isht Devas” and “Kul Devtas” to seek protection, blessings, and agricultural prosperity.

Unique Festivals and Celebrations

Dhatmeer village celebrates a wide range of Garhwali and seasonal festivals, many of which are unique to the Rawain Valley. Key festivals include:

• Devgoti

The Devgoti is the most famous festival of Dhatmeer village, which is famous all over region. This devgoti is dedicated to local deity ‘Someshwar mahadev’, which is called to be incarnate of lord Shiva. The lord Someshwar Mahadev is worshiped  and to visit huge crowd gather in village Dhatmeer. The Devgoti is widely known as ‘Dei’ by the people. This devgoti is celebrated every year in months of August, the is from 15th of August and last till the end of August. It is 10 days celebrations, where the last 2-3 days are very popular in which large number of crowd come to see the devgoti of village Dhatmeer.

In this devgoti people gathered and start the folk ras, tandi and folk songs. This go through all 10 days in evening but the last day of devgoti it continued till morning, the celebration go through all over night due to its ending.   

• Sawan Jatra

Sawan jatra is one of the most famous festival in Dhatmeer village, in which the deity Someshwar mahadev arrive to Dhatmeer village from another village in sawan (July) month and huge crowd arrive along with Someshwar mahadev. In this festival Someshwar mahadev is worshiped by the priests and in evening “The Kafua” is very famous in which lord Someshwar mahadev incarnate in the priest and connect with people to talk villagers and give the speech and promises to maintain the peace and prosperity. 
Night shedule is awesome in which whole crowd get together in temple playground to start the cultural and traditional folk dances and somgs. The ras is very famous. This savan festival is only for 1 day in Dhatmeer village, and after this the palaquine of Someshwar mahadev go to another village.

Folk songs, instruments and dances

Dhatmeer Village is a traditional village which have their own specific folk songs, dance and instruments. This all  are the identities and pride of villagers, indicating the culture and lifestyle of the natives. The folk songs, folk dance and instruments are as ;

• Tandi and Ras

Tandi and ras are the main folk dances form of villagers, which people perform in festivals and celebrations. Tandi and Ras are performed in groups, Tandi and Ras has difference. Tandi is folk dance of villagers in which people makes a round circle by holding each other hands and perform the folk dance. While in Ras people hold a weapon called Dangri, in hands and perform the folk dance with double headed drum which is called Dhol. Tandi and Ras both are step codings which has to be same in patterns.

• Chhode, Laman, Chopati etc

Villagers have folk songs which are totally in their native tone, this folk songs are of different types like Chhode, Laman, Chopati etc. This folk songs were created by the ancestors which are till now performed by people, with the time people made new folk songs which are now in much numbers. This folk songs are performed with folk dance which give quite beautiful combinations and looks awesome to watch.

• Dhol – Dhamau, Flute,  Ranasingha etc

Dhol -Dhamau, Ranasingha etc are the main and traditional music instruments of villagers which are famous all over Utarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. This musical instruments are specially for festivals, and celebrations of villagers. The sounds are much fantastic that the public love to hear the instrumental sounds, this musical instruments  are used in deities worshiping too.