Pandit in Sahastradhara Road, Dehradun

Dehradun is the capital of Uttarakhand, set in the Doon valley between the Shivaliks and the Mussoorie hills. Its most loved temple is Tapkeshwar Mahadev, a cave shrine where water drips on the Shivling, which draws big crowds on Maha Shivratri, and the Daat Kali Mandir on the Saharanpur road is where many families stop before a new vehicle or a journey.

The city's families come from the Garhwal and Kumaon hills, from Punjabi households who settled here after Partition, and from government, defence and education institutions. Griha Pravesh in new colonies, Pahadi Vivah and Mundan, kul devta pujan and Punjabi Mata ki Chowki all keep local Pandits busy.