Vasantotsav 2025 hues with Doon University students – Day 3
By Nikhilesh Banerjee, Akshat Kala & Kaumudi Bisht
Dehradun, 10 Mar: When we talk about the economy of Uttarakhand, we cannot help but talk about its culture. Here not only traditions shape livelihoods and festivals but also bring communities together. From farming in the hills to wool weaving, wood carving, and local markets, every craft and trade is a part of our heritage. Vasantotsav is not just a celebration of spring but also a reflection of this cultural economy. On the final day of Vasantotsav 2025, 9 March, it was seen how traditions continue to support local artisans, farmers, and performers. The festival becomes a space where people share their skills, sell their handmade products, and keep their heritage alive. It reminds that economic growth in Uttarakhand is not just about development but also about preserving the culture that sustains it.
What made this festival special was the presence of businesses from vastly different economic backgrounds. Some were well-established, dating back to the 1950s, while others were start-ups, just beginning their journey. It reflected two sides of the same culture—one rooted in legacy, carrying forward decades of experience, and the other embracing the new spirit of entrepreneurship. Some businesses had been a part of Vasantotsav since its early days at Raj Bhavan, while others were experiencing the festival for the first time, stepping into this vibrant place of tradition and innovation.
Beekeeping was a major highlight, with stalls like JGS, Shivalik Natural Products, Him Madhu, Madhucrafted, and Prakritik Krishi Vikas Sansthan showcasing a variety of pure honey and bee products. JGS, in business since 1990, has grown from two bee boxes to over 4,000, exporting honey and bee equipment across India and abroad. Him Madhu, which began in Uttar Pradesh and later moved to Uttarakhand, provides training to farmers and supplies honey to institutions like IIT Delhi and elsewhere. Madhucrafted, a family-run business since 1959, raised awareness about the dangers of processed honey, explaining why raw honey should never be heated. Their honey, rich in natural propolis, offers health benefits that many commercial brands remove. Prakritik Krishi Vikas Sansthan, operating for over 35 years, produces honey and organic spices across 13 districts, supporting local farmers.
Silk production was another major attraction. Doon Silk and the Silk Department, both government initiatives, displayed exquisite silk sarees priced between Rs 4,000 and Rs 40,000. With factories in Premnagar and Selaqui, they provide employment to over 2,000 workers and collect silk from across Uttarakhand. Small-scale businesses led by women, like Langha Valley, demonstrated the power of self-reliance. Started in 2016 in a remote village with no schools or colleges, this initiative now employs local women to produce 23 varieties of pickles, five kinds of jams, six types of raw honey, and three types of chutneys, all made without preservatives. Healthcare and traditional wellness were also featured. The Free Ayurvedic Checkup Camp provided free medical consultations, medicines, and guidance on traditional healing methods like janu basti and kati basti, which use warm herbal compresses for pain relief.
Agriculture and sustainability were emphasised through the Agriculture Insurance Company (AIC), which informed farmers about crop and cattle insurance, currently serving regions like Chakrata and Vikasnagar.
Adding to the cultural aspect, IHS Doon Plant Lovers showcased a model representing the Phool Dei festival, which celebrates the arrival of spring with flowers like Buransh and Peony. The stall educated visitors about the festival’s traditions, such as children placing fresh flowers at doorsteps and eating dei, a pudding made of jaggery and curd. Vedavi Herbal Tea brought the authentic taste of Uttarakhand to the festival, promoting natural wellness while preserving the region’s cultural heritage.
The grand closing ceremony of Vasantotsav 2025 marked the culmination of three days of celebration, knowledge-sharing, and community participation. The event, which saw an overwhelming attendance of 2.7 lakh people, highlighted Uttarakhand’s rich heritage in floriculture, horticulture, and agriculture. Honouring excellence in these fields, 165 winners were felicitated across 15 main competitions and 53 sub-categories, recognising their dedication and contribution. The Running Trophy was awarded to the Institute Works Department, IIT Roorkee, for its outstanding performance in ten different categories. The art gallery competition witnessed remarkable creativity with 30 photographers showcasing their work, while the painting competition engaged 1,000 students from various schools, reflecting the artistic spirit of the younger generation.
The festival also provided a platform for farmers, entrepreneurs, and startups to exhibit their innovations. With 214 governmental and private organisations setting up stalls—26 representing the state and 186 from private enterprises—the event successfully promoted entrepreneurship, technological advancements, and sustainable practices in agriculture and floriculture. As many as 900 participants competed in the cut flower category, showcasing the diversity of flowers like jarbera, carnation, gladiolus, lilium, and orchids, cultivated over 644 hectares for commercial purposes.
The Minister of Agriculture, Ganesh Joshi, addressed the gathering, outlining government initiatives to support farmers and horticulturists. Under the NABARD RIDF scheme, the state has invested Rs 304.33 crore to establish cluster-based polyhouses, covering landowners from 500 sqm to 4,000 sqm, with 50% financial assistance from the state. The Mukhyamantri Honey Gram Yojana, aimed at expanding beekeeping, is already working with over 1,000 farmers, selecting one village from each district to participate. The aroma sector, which has seen its turnover grow from Rs 2 crore to Rs 100 crore, was also highlighted as a key area for Uttarakhand’s agricultural future.
In his speech, Governor Lt General Gurmit Singh (Retd) expressed deep appreciation of the efforts of the horticulture sector, women, and youth in making the festival a grand success. He referred to Vasantotsav as Shiv Ji ka Vardaan (a blessing from Lord Shiva) and acknowledged the growing impact of Mehek Kranti, a movement that has positioned Uttarakhand as a leader in the fragrance industry. He emphasized the state’s potential to meet the world’s perfume and attar (essence) demands and proudly shared this vision with the Prime Minister of India. Uttarakhand currently produces 3,000 metric tonnes of honey, but with its immense potential, this figure could reach the 60,000 metric tonnes. The Governor also acknowledged the remarkable involvement of women in beekeeping, branding, and packaging, making it a powerful sector for women’s empowerment.
Another key milestone of the event was the release of the AI-powered ‘Gargi’ app for women’s empowerment, marking a step forward in utilising technology for social progress. The students of Doon University were also commended for their extensive coverage of the festival across print, digital, and social media, ensuring its reach to a wider audience. In recognition of the event’s success, a proposal to extend the festival to four days—an idea put forward by the students of Doon University—was also discussed
This was the festival filled with flowers all around. In the sacred land of Uttarakhand, flowers hold deep meaning. They are not just objects or offerings but symbols of devotion, purity, and divine connection. People of hills are believed to be in close affinity with nature. A well-known tale highlights this belief. Once, a devotee asked Lord Vishnu, “Which pushpam (flower) do you like the most? There are so many—lotus, champak, rose, jasmine.” Vishnu replied, “I like eight pushpam the most. The first pushpam is Ahimsa (non-violence), the second pushpam is Indriya Nigraha (control over the senses), the third pushpam is Sarvabhuta Daya (compassion towards all beings), the fourth pushpam is Kshama (forgiveness), which is very important. The fifth pushpam is Jnana (knowledge), the sixth pushpam is Tapa (austerity), the seventh pushpam is Shanti (peace), and the eighth pushpam is Satya (truth). Each of these pushpam is special because it helps a person find liberation and come closer to me.” This story reminds people that devotion is not just about offering pushpam but about living with these values. In Uttarakhand, where nature and faith go hand in hand, such beliefs make flowers even more sacred.
The festival ended with a simple truth—despite modern changes, people still value things made with care, rooted in tradition, and connected to the land. Whether through honey, silk, handmade pickles, or handwritten letters, Vasantotsav 2025 proved that tradition is not fading; it is adapting and thriving. And let’s remember that festivals like Vasantotsav are the story of life beyond artificial intelligence, beyond online shopping, beyond the screens that separate us. It is about how people still step out, still choose to buy with their hands, to love with their presence, to gather under the open sky and celebrate what is real. It is the story of how culture endures—not as something of the past, but as something we continue to live, breathe, and keep alive together. We hope you enjoyed the festival. Let’s cherish this memory until we meet again next year to celebrate it once more, as it is beautifully said, “That is one good thing about this world… there are always sure to be more springs.”— LM Montgomery, Anne of Avonlea.
