Uttarakhand would be the first State in the country to have traditional attire for convocation ceremonies of its universities.

If everything goes as per the plan, then from January 1, 2018, common attire for the convocation would be implemented.

The State Minister for Higher education, Dhan Singh Rawat told The Pioneer at the sidelines of the seminar on quality education at Doon University that he has invited suggestions from 30 Universities about new convocation dress. He said that the State Government wants that old convocation robe which is a legacy of British Raj in the country, should be replaced by attire which represents the tradition and culture of the State. The Minister informed that 12 designs from the different universities have been shortlisted and they would be sent to the universities. “We are taking up a democratic approach and not foisting anything on the Universities. The universities would send their choices and the attire selected by the maximum number of universities would be finally selected as the convocation attire,’’ he said.

The School of Design of Graphic Era Hill University has recommended four ensembles of convocation attires to the committee set up by the state government. Professor Jyoti Chhabra of the university gave a presentation on the convocation dresses designed by the students. She said that inspiration from Aipan art, Rangwali Pichwada ( part of bridal costume in Kumaon), state bird Monal, State flower Brahmakamal, costume of Garhwal Rifles and traditional cap and Sadri are taken to create four different costumes of the purpose.

It is pertinent to mention here that the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand Trivendra Singh Rawat refused to wear the convocation gown and square cap during the convocation ceremony of University of Petroleum and Energy Studies (UPES) recently. After this episode, the higher education minister Dhan Singh Rawat formed a committee of Vice Chancellors to select a traditional outfit for convocation ceremonies.