Eco-Friendly Celebration Kicks Off: Tribal Festival 2025 to Debut in Lahaul & Spiti as Historical Step for Himachal Pradesh
Eco-Friendly Tribal Festival 2025 Celebrates Lahaul-Spiti's Rich Culture and Heritage
From August 14 to 16, 2025, the picturesque Lahaul-Spiti district in Himachal Pradesh played host to the first-ever eco-friendly and zero-waste festival, the Tribal Festival 2025. Held at the Police Ground in Keylong, the district headquarters, the event showcased the authentic tribal culture of Lahaul and Spiti, promoting sustainability and environment-friendly practices.
Schedule and Pre-Festival Activities
The main festival ran over three days, but pre-festival events began as early as August 2. These included yoga sessions, poetry contests, knitting competitions, plantation drives, and local/traditional sports. The festival also featured the Mr., Miss & Mrs. Lahaul & Spiti pageant to celebrate inclusivity and local heritage.
Objectives
The objectives of the festival were fourfold. First, to celebrate and showcase the tribal culture of Lahaul and Spiti through indigenous art, music, dance, cuisine, sports, and handicrafts. Second, to promote tribal tourism, community integration, and provide livelihood opportunities for local artisans and homestays. Third, to blend cultural heritage with sustainability and environment-friendly practices, setting a benchmark for such events in Himachal Pradesh and similar ecologically fragile regions. Lastly, to foster inclusive development and women's empowerment, with the Deputy Commissioner Kiran Bhadana leading environmental and social initiatives connected with the festival.
Green Initiatives and Eco-friendly Practices
The festival implemented a zero-waste protocol, ensuring minimal environmental impact. Emphasis was on the use of locally grown, organic ingredients in food to support sustainable agriculture and reduce carbon footprint. Plantation drives before and during the festival helped enhance local greenery and environmental awareness among participants. Visitors were encouraged to appreciate and support local handicrafts, positively impacting the economy while reducing reliance on mass-produced or imported goods. The administration promoted eco-conscious public events, serving as a model for future festivals in the state.
Additional Details
The festival's inauguration was marked by the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Shri Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, who also laid the foundation for development projects worth Rs. 36 crore for Lahaul. Over 790 homestays and 70 hotels in the region accommodated the influx of attendees, which included locals, tourists, and cultural enthusiasts. The festival offered immersive cultural experiences such as folk dances ('Garphi' and 'Kikli') and traditional diet staples including thukpa, buckwheat pancakes (kodra roti), and chhang (fermented barley drink).
The Tribal Festival 2025 was backed by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, TRIFED (Tribes of India), the North Zone Cultural Centre, and the Government of Himachal Pradesh. The festival aims to set a new benchmark for environmentally conscious public events in the state. The Lahaul and Spiti district, formed in 1960, is the fourth least populous district in India. The press release does not carry any editorial responsibility by The Tribune. The Tribal Festival 2025 offers a unique opportunity to experience the cultural and ecological richness of Lahaul & Spiti, with green protocols introduced to minimize environmental impact, including a ban on single-use plastics, refillable water stations, cloth bag promotions, and Swachhata volunteers.
- The Tribal Festival 2025, held in Lahaul-Spiti, merged business opportunities with environmental-science, promoting sustainable-living and eco-friendly practices within the community.
- Besides the main event, the festival included a variety of sports, such as traditional local sports, further enriching the lifestyle experience for attendees.
- The Minister of Tribal Affairs, TRIFED (Tribes of India), the North Zone Cultural Centre, and the Government of Himachal Pradesh collaborated to foster cultural exchange in the realm of environment.
- The climate-change focus of the festival was emphasized through news stories, aiming to raise awareness and encourage a greener culture in both the local community and visitors.
- In addition to the festival's cultural offerings, it featured science demonstrations and discussions, highlighting the interplay between environment and scientific advancements.
- A crucial objective of the festival was to extend opportunities for home-and-garden businesses, empowering local artisans by providing a platform to showcase their environmentally friendly handicrafts.
