Nanda Devi Women’s Festival 2004

On this 55th Republic Day of India, January 26, 2004, Gram Sabha Lata held its first ever Nanda Devi Women’s Festival to recognize the achievements of the region’s women. In what hopes to be an annual event, this year’s festival paid particular homage to those women still practising traditional medicine in addition to holding several competitions to promote local indigenous knowledge and skills, as well as community.

The festival was inaugurated with a flag hoisting and the holding of the “Govind Singh Rawat Memorial Community Rights Cricket Tournament.” Govind Singh was the regional organizer for the Chipko Movement that will be celebrating its 30th anniversary later this spring. This festival hoped to build momentum towards these commemorations, while continuing the struggle through implementation of the Nanda Devi Declaration.