Wildlife Week, Women’s Fair kicks off at Kullu

The picturesque Tirthan Valley in Banjar subdivision of Kullu district is known for its natural beauty and for its ancient civilisation and culture. The annual Wildlife Week and Women’s Fair in Sairopa were inaugurated on October 2 by Forest Division Officer of Great Himalayan National Park Kullu Sachin Sharma. The event featured various activities, with the Kulluvi Nati competition for local women being the main attraction.

Prominent attendees included ACF Hansraj Thakur from Great Himalayan National Park, Deputy Director of Horticulture Neena Thakur, a member of the district council, Man Singh and several officials from the Forest Department, voluntary organisations and local panchayats.

This year, the fair, organised by the park management and BTCI, witnessed a larger crowd than in previous years. Celebrated on Gandhi Jayanti, the fair offers local women a platform for entertainment and cultural expression that allows them to showcase their talents. Traditional stalls were set up, adding to the festive atmosphere.

The Nati competition featured participation from around 12 self-help groups, showcasing their traditional attire and skills. Participants promoted key messages such as ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ cleanliness, environmental conservation and substance abuse awareness. Notably, a group from Anah village in remote Panchayat Shrikot participated for the first time, which earned them applause.

In the Nati competition, the Five Bir Self-Help Group from Tung secured first place. They were followed by students from Gushaini School in second place and groups from Laxmi Narayan and Jagriti in the third spot. In other contests, Neha from Parwadi village won the chair race, while Rina and Aarti Thakur secured top spots in the pot-breaking event.

The quiz competition for school students saw participants from Trinity Public School and High School Tinder take the top two spots. The winners received trophies and certificates in recognition of their achievements.

DFO Sachin Sharma emphasised the importance of the Wildlife Week that focusses on ‘Human-Wildlife Coexistence’ this year. The week-long event would include workshops, quizzes, and painting activities in schools within the GHNP eco-zone.

The Women’s Fair attracted hundreds of locals and tourists, who enjoyed the rich cultural displays. The crowd was so large that seating in the pavilion became scarce and visitors also explored the newly established Nature Learning Park.