Surat: The 23-day Saputara monsoon festival, Megh Malhar 2025, will begin on July 26 at the state’s only hill station, in Dang. The festival will begin with a folk carnival parade on the theme ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’, featuring 354 artists from 13 states, including Gujarat. Every year, thousands of tourists visit the hill station during the festival to enjoy the beauty of the forest in the monsoon and witness the tribal life of the region. Chief minister Bhupendra Patel will inaugurate the festival in the presence of tourism minister Mulu Bera, minister of state for tribal development Kunvarji Halpati, and other eminent guests. The tradition of festivals such as Kutch Rann Utsav, Navratri Mahotsav, International Kite Festival and Kankaria Carnival, started by the then chief minister and current Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has now reached every city and region of Gujarat, giving the state a unique identity in tourism. This colourful festival will be held at Saputara until August 17. The inauguration day parade will also feature traditional props such as giant kawadis, jumping kawadis, large puppets, Ladakh masks, wings and face masks, along with a tableau on Operation Sindoor. In the colourful inaugural stage programme, 87 artists from Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Manipur, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Assam, Karnataka and Haryana will present dangi, beda garba, Holi dance, maniyaro, yakshagana, pung, rouf, tippani, bharatanatyam, mohiniyattam, nati, kathakali, Manipuri raas, langa, kalbelia, dollu kunitha, dhangari, bhangra, ghoomar, mayur, chhau, bihu, kathak and other dances. Through the 23-day festival, various cultural programmes will be held on weekends. The first week will be celebrated as ‘Tribal Heritage Week’, featuring art and craft stalls, tribal cuisine, selfie zones and exhibitions of tribal skills. Weekly programmes will include performances by Geeta Rabari, Parth Oza, Raag Mehta and a special performance by Kerala’s ‘Thekkin Kadu Attam Musical Band’ on July 27. Upcoming and college artists from Gujarat will also be given a stage to perform, while renowned artists from other states will present their art and dances. The festival will feature rain dance, forest trails, multiple selfie zones, a theme pavilion and traditional games at the event venue. A grand moving tableau will travel across different areas of Saputara, engaging citizens in entertaining activities with prizes for winners. The ‘Saputara Monsoon Festival’ has become a tradition among Gujarat’s festivals, allowing tourists from across the country to enjoy tribal culture, traditions and cuisine during the rainy season, while also generating local employment opportunities.
