Devbhoomi Cultural Festival at Badrinath on September 19–20

Army, Chamoli administration join hands to showcase Uttarakhand’s culture and promote border tourism

-By Prakash Kapruwaan-
Jyotirmath, September 18. The Indian Army and Chamoli District Administration will jointly organise the two-day Devbhoomi Cultural Festival 2026 at the Tourist Arrival Plaza in Badrinath on September 19 and 20. Being held under Operation Sadbhavana, the festival will focus on Uttarakhand’s cultural heritage, border tourism, local entrepreneurship and livelihood opportunities in border villages.
The festival, based on the theme “Our Heritage, Our Future”, will bring together local artists, artisans, farmers, women’s self-help groups, students, youth and entrepreneurs. It will feature Garhwali folk dances and traditional music, cultural performances by school and college students, and exhibitions of handicrafts, handloom and woollen products, organic and herbal produce and traditional Himalayan cuisine.
Special stalls will be provided to women’s self-help groups and local entrepreneurs, enabling them to display and sell their products directly to pilgrims and tourists visiting Badrinath.
Badrinath, one of the country’s major pilgrimage destinations, is also surrounded by villages known for their distinctive Himalayan traditions, folk culture, handicrafts and traditional way of life. The organisers said the festival is intended to give wider exposure to this heritage while creating economic opportunities for communities living in the border region.
Border tourism will be an important focus of the event. Visitors will be introduced to the cultural diversity, natural surroundings and traditional lifestyle of villages around Badrinath. Greater tourist engagement in these areas is expected to benefit homestays, hotels, transport operators, local guides, restaurants, artisans and other small businesses.
The initiative is also linked with the objectives of the Vibrant Villages Programme, which seeks to improve infrastructure, livelihood opportunities and quality of life in villages along the country’s northern border.
An interactive exhibition by the Indian Army will be another attraction of the festival. It will provide visitors with information about the Army’s role in border management, disaster response and community-oriented activities in remote areas. Under Operation Sadbhavana, the Army undertakes initiatives related to education, healthcare, skill development and community welfare in border regions.
The Army and district administration are jointly making arrangements for security, traffic management, parking, medical assistance, sanitation and other visitor facilities during the two-day programme.
Pilgrims visiting  Badrinath Dham, tourists, local residents, students, artists and entrepreneurs have been invited to participate in the festival. Organisers said the event is intended to combine cultural preservation with tourism and economic opportunities for communities in Uttarakhand’s border areas.