Three day Ghasyari festival at Chunyalisaud, Uttarkashi organised to commemorate International Women’s Day
DIGBEER BISHT FROM UTTARKASHI
The three-day Ghasiyari festival dedicated to the deep connection between women and nature in the hilly areas of Uttarakhand was organised from Friday to Sunday at Chinyali Saud Matholi Bwari village, Uttarkashi.
The aim of this festival is not only to promote local culture and traditions but also to encourage women empowerment and rural tourism.
Pradeep Panwar..the organiser informed that on the occasion of International Women’s Day this year, tribute was paid to mountaineer Savita Kanswal, who lost her life while descending from the Draupadi Ka Danda (DKD-2) peak in 2022.
Savita played a vital role in Ghasiari Utsav 2022, making the festival successful in its goal of women empowerment and boosting local tourism.
Khushboo Bharti, a resident of Dehradun, said that cultural performances like grass cutting competitions, traditional games, storytelling programmes, Garhwali folk dance and music were organised at the Ghasiyari festival.
Also, the festival provided a platform to local artisans and women entrepreneurs to showcase their handicrafts and traditional cuisine.
Anila Pawar, a woman from Bwari village, said that the Ghasiyaris of Uttarakhand, who earn their livelihood even in difficult geographical conditions, are the main focus of this festival. Through this festival, the traditional culture of the state, the role of women and new dimensions of tourism are being presented.
Manoj Kohli said that on the occasion of International Women’s Day, Ghasiari festival was celebrated with great fanfare. Women from more than a dozen villages participated in the program. Such events can stop migration from the hills.
Speaking at the Vaakhthuro ground with the festival’s organiser Rupesh Kumar Rai, he said that such events can also prove helpful in stopping migration from the hills in the state. People are migrating from Uttarakhand’s rural areas to the plains due to lack of employment and basic amenities.
Cultural and tourism-oriented events like Ghasiari Utsav can increase employment opportunities at the local level, which will encourage people to stay in their villages. With the support of Uttarakhand State Tourism Department, this festival was made even more grand said Manoj Kohli.
For the first time in 2022, this festival was organized in Bwari village of Chinyalisaur Mathauli, a development block of Uttarkashi. Since then, this village has become the first place in Uttarakhand where this festival is celebrated with the full participation of women, thereby preserving its traditional heritage.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that such festivals play an important role in promoting pilgrimage and religious tourism. This festival not only preserves the cultural heritage of the state but also strengthens the local economy and tourism industry.
