Harela Is Not Just A Festival, But A Pledge To Protect Nature And Future Generations : Tirath Singh Rawat

New Delhi. The greenery of Uttarakhand’s folk festival Harela and its message of environmental protection got a powerful voice in the national capital. A grand and dignified programme – “Environmental Protection” seminar and Paryavaran Gaurav Samman Samaroh-2026 on the occasion of National Harela Festival – was organized by Amar Sandesh newspaper at the Annexe Deputy Speaker Hall, Constitution Club of India, New Delhi. In the programme, serious deliberation was held on environmental protection, Uttarakhand’s rich cultural heritage and relevance of Harela festival. On this occasion, personalities who have made remarkable contribution in the fields of journalism, politics, social service, education, health, literature, art and culture were honoured with Paryavaran Gaurav Samman-2026.

Chief Guest, former Chief Minister of Uttarakhand and National Vice President of BJP, Shri Tirath Singh Rawat, describing Harela festival as an important symbol of Uttarakhand’s nature-loving culture, said that environmental protection should not be limited to one day or one event. Planting a sapling is important, but more important is to protect it till it becomes a tree. He said nature will be safe only then human life and the future of coming generations will be safe.

Senior Congress leader and Statehood agitationist Shri Haripal Rawat said that Harela festival of Uttarakhand has been reminding us of our social duty towards nature for centuries. In today’s era of environmental challenges, the message of Harela should reach from the borders of Uttarakhand to the whole country. He appreciated the efforts being made by Amar Sandesh regarding environmental protection.

Director of Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti, Rajghat, New Delhi, Dr. Sanjit Kumar said that environmental protection is not just about planting trees, but a question related to our thinking and lifestyle. Balanced behaviour with nature is the basis of sustainable development. He described such events as an effective medium to increase sensitivity towards environment in society.

Senior Advocate of Supreme Court and social worker Shri Sanjay Darmora Sharma said that environmental protection is one of the biggest social responsibilities of the present time. Without maintaining balance between development and nature, future cannot be imagined. Every citizen will have to play his role in environmental protection.

BJP Delhi State Vice President Dr. Vinod Bacheti said that there is a need to make environmental protection a mass movement. Respect for nature is already embedded in Uttarakhand’s culture and Harela festival strengthens this spirit.

Delhi State Women Commission Chairperson Smt. Lata Gupta said that environmental protection should start from home and family. Connecting children and youth with nature and developing habit of caring for plants in them is the biggest need of coming time.

Associate Director, Orthopedics and Joint Replacement, Max Hospital, Patparganj, Dr. Deepak Kumar Arora, highlighting deep relation between environment and health, said that clean air, clean water and healthy environment are directly related to human health. Protection of environment is actually protection of a healthy society.

The programme started with lamp lighting by dignitaries. Chief Guest Tirath Singh Rawat, Smt. Lata Gupta, Dr. Sanjit Kumar, Dr. K.C. Pandey, Sanjay Darmora Sharma, Dr. Vinod Bacheti, Dr. Deepak Arora and Amar Sandesh Editor Amar Chand and other guests formally inaugurated the programme by lighting the lamp.

On this occasion, guests on the dais were welcomed by presenting angvastram and a sapling. To make the message of environmental protection more effective, an idol of Lord Shri Ram was also presented to the guests.

In the programme, journalist and social worker Shri Deepak Jain, who stands specially with Amar Sandesh, presented Tulsi saplings to the guests from his side in a unique and inspiring initiative. This initiative of presenting Tulsi plant instead of flowers in welcome of guests was seen fully connected with the core environmental message of the ceremony.

This initiative of Deepak Jain gave the message that honour should not be just formality, but should be such which becomes useful for society and nature as well.

Chairman of the programme and Advisor of Amar Sandesh Dr. K.C. Pandey welcomed and thanked all guests and dignitaries present. He said bringing people from different fields of society on one platform on an important subject like environment is in itself a meaningful effort. He wished Amar Sandesh family to continue organizing such programmes connected with social concerns.

On this occasion, Media Coordinator to Chief Minister of Uttarakhand Shri Madan Mohan Sati was also specially felicitated. He was honoured by presenting angvastram and idol of Lord Shri Ram. Shri Sati, marking his dignified presence in the programme, appreciated this environmental and social concern-related आयोजन of Amar Sandesh and wished Amar Sandesh family for success of the event.

In his welcome speech, Amar Sandesh Editor Amar Chand, while welcoming all guests, said that Harela is connected with the soul of Uttarakhand’s soil, nature and culture. Effort of Amar Sandesh is that Harela should get recognition across the country not only as a folk festival of Uttarakhand, but as a national message of environmental protection.

He expressed special gratitude to Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), GAIL India Limited (GAIL), Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) and industrialist Shri Suresh Chand Pandey and all collaborating institutions and social workers for making the आयोजन successful.

He said success of this आयोजन is not achievement of one person, but result of trust, cooperation and affection of all those who cooperated with this effort of Amar Sandesh considering it as their own directly or indirectly.

In the ceremony, personalities who have made remarkable contribution in various fields were honoured with Paryavaran Gaurav Samman-2026 by the Chief Guest and dignitaries on the dais.

Among those honoured were Dr. Deepak Arora, Associate Director, Orthopedics and Joint Replacement, Max Hospital, Patparganj, Chairman of Nanak Training Institute, New Delhi Shri S.K. Singh, Convener of Young Uttarakhand Youth Association Shri Mohan Singh Rawat, President Girish Rawat, Advisor Parmanand Papnai and General Secretary Smt. Asha Negi, Founder and Director of Sansarino Development Foundation Ms. Hena Pandey, senior journalist Rahul Pandey, Lecturer of Government Intermediate College Badasi, Raipur, Dehradun Girish Chandra Ghildiyal, Chief Editor of ‘Daur-e-Jadeed’ Urdu daily S.T. Raza, senior journalist Shrikant Bhatia, Assistant Professor, Jesus and Mary College, Delhi Ms. Divya Agarwal, President of Myar Pahad Uttarakhand Samiti Kundan Singh Bhainsoda, social worker Pratap Thalwal, senior journalists Jagmohan Dangi, Deep Kumar, journalist and social worker Deepak Jain, senior journalist Rajesh Dandriyal, journalist Satyendra Singh Negi, journalist Harish Rawat, senior journalist Deep Sharma, journalist Dwarika Prasad Chamoli, Smt. Rachna Tripathi – teacher and social worker, Smt. Satya Chaudhary – educationist and environmentalist, Smt. Reena Rautela – teacher and social worker, Ms. Pooja Tripathi – Kathak artist, Ms. Komal Rana Negi – Director, Ghughuti Cultural Arts Forum, Smt. Dhanlakshmi Mahto, Smt. Pushpa Pant, Smt. Bharti Rawat Negi, Shri Anil Kumar Pant – senior social worker, Ms. Kiran Jha, Ms. Kalpana Jha, Dr. Hema Uniyal – litterateur and statehood agitationist, Surendra Singh Halsi, Dr. Nandini, Dr. Kusum Bhatt, Ms. Rajni Dhodiyal Joshi, Smt. Kummu Joshi Bhatnagar, Satya Prakash Uttarakhandi, Mahavir Singh, Shri Subhash Gusain, Sohan Bishan Singh and many other distinguished personalities.

In the honour ceremony, youth and child talents were also honoured and encouraged. During this, Ms. Sidhiksha Upadhyay, Ms. Anvesha Bhardwaj, Ms. Akshara Parihar, Ms. Kashvi, Ms. Manasvi Tripathi, Ms. Ananya Bhatia, Ms. Merlin Judith Lazarus, Ms. Vaishnavi, Ms. Kavya Kispotta, Ms. Carol Harela, Ms. Arpita Mishra, Ms. Khushi Pandey, Ms. Amreen Ali, Ms. Ritambhara Gupta, Ms. Ananya Mahapatra, Ms. Gouranshi Bansal, Ms. Anjali, Ms. Shreya Sharma, Ms. Arushi Manna and Smt. Rashmi Singh and other talents were also honoured.

Amid serious discourse on environmental protection, cultural presentations gave emotional and vibrant colour to the ceremony.

The first presentation of the programme was a welcome song by Kathak Nrityashala team under direction of Pooja Tripathi. After this, team of Ghughuti Cultural Arts Forum under direction of Kamal Rana Negi gave splendid presentations.

In children’s presentations, Sidhiksha Upadhyay, Anvesha Bhardwaj, Akshara Parihar, Kashvi, Manasvi Tripathi, Ananya Bhatia, Merlin Judith Lazarus, Vaishnavi, Kavya Kispotta, Carol Harela, Arpita Mishra, Khushi Pandey, Amreen Ali, Ritambhara Gupta, Ananya Mahapatra, Gouranshi Bansal, Anjali, Shreya Sharma and Arushi Manna and other child and youth talents gave beautiful performance of their art.

After this, an attractive cultural presentation under direction of Rashmi Singh, Director, Manotsav Kala Kendra, added charm to the ceremony. The presentations of artists mesmerized people present in auditorium and spread beautiful glimpse of Uttarakhand’s folk culture.

The speciality of the ceremony was that along with serious subject of environmental protection, Uttarakhand’s culture, social service, journalism, education and youth talents also got one platform. Speakers said that spirit of nature conservation is already present in our folk culture and Harela is a festival that carries forward this tradition.

Speakers present in programme emphasized that protection of nature and culture should go together. The society whose roots are connected with its culture and nature, that society can lay foundation of safe and prosperous future for coming generations.

In making programme successful, important role of Dr. K.C. Pandey, Pooja Tripathi, Neera Jha, Dhanlakshmi Mahto, Mohan Singh Rawat, Surendra Singh Halsi, Harish Aswal, Uday Mamgai Rathi, Sohan Bishan Singh, Swayam Chauhan, Mayank Chauhan, Deepak Jain and photographer Jeevan Chandra and many other collaborators remained.

The programme was anchored in an easy, effective and dignified manner by senior theatre artist, writer and poet Shri Hem Pant.

Amar Sandesh family expressed heartfelt gratitude to all guests, honoured personalities, journalist colleagues, cultural artists, social workers, collaborating institutions and all collaborators who made the आयोजन successful staying behind the scenes.

At end of ceremony, Amar Sandesh family pledged that efforts will continue to take Harela festival beyond boundaries of Uttarakhand and take its message of nature conservation, plantation and environmental awareness to national level.

Amar Sandesh Editor Amar Chand said that Harela is not just a folk festival, but gratitude towards nature, responsibility towards environment and pledge for safe future of coming generations.

Coming soon in the month of October, last week