By Our Staff Reporter
Mussoorie, 9 Dec: The Mussoorie Mountain Festival 2020 concluded today with a fascinating array of talks and performances that showcased the rich diversity of the Himalaya, especially the culture and landscapes of Uttarakhand.
Professor DR Purohit spoke about the celebrated poet, Chandra Kunwar Bhartwal, and introduced a musical interpretation of his lyrics by noted singer Sanjay Panday. Dr Purohit also gave a talk on the Pandavlila folk dramas of Garhwal. Singer and poet Mohammad Muneem Nazir performed a traditional Kashmiri folk song with poignant emotions.
Naturalists Suniti Bhushan Datta and Sanjay Sondhi, both from Dehradun, spoke about the biodiversity of the region. Historian Ram Guha introduced Dr Shekhar Pathak’s new book on the Chipko Movement, while publisher Rukun Advani described how his company, Permanent Black, focuses on writers from the Himalayan region.
Mountaineering was also featured with an interview between Harish Kapadia and Stephen Venables, who spoke about his ascent of the dangerous Kangshung Face of Mt Everest. Arunachal Pradesh was also well represented by poet Mamang Dai and singer-songwriter Takar Nabam. Woodstock School’s Hanifl Centre hosted the festival, which was an entirely virtual event.
