PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE / Dehradun
The 30th edition of the Virasat Art and Heritage Festival 2025 is scheduled to take place from October 4 to October 18 at Ambedkar Stadium in Dehradun. The event will be inaugurated by governor lieutenant general (retd) Gurmit Singh. The festival is a vibrant celebration of Indian and global folk and classical music, dance, arts, crafts and history which will be orgnaised by Rural Entrepreneurship for Art and Cultural History (REACH), as stated by founder and general secretary RK Singh.
Singh emphasised that Virasat is an annual cultural festival that showcases India’s rich artistic traditions and heritage. This festival provides a platform for artisans and craftsmen to present their folk and classical art forms, preserving the essence of Indian culture. The journey of Virasat, which began in 1995 with the support of the country’s Maharatna ONGC, is now completing 30 years of promoting and preserving the rich cultural heritage of India and other countries.
He said that the 15-day festival will feature a diverse array of programmes. Highlights include heritage showcase sessions where young artists from schools and colleges in Dehradun will display their talents and participate in craft workshops led by master artisans. Other activities will include a heritage quiz competition, a crafts treasure hunt and many more. Special sessions will also be held for differently-abled students during Virasat, he said.
“The grand stage will be designed to reflect a historical site in India. There will be specialty stalls featuring handloom and crafts, pottery, woodwork, metal craft, leather craft and much more from various states, adding to the festival’s allure. Additionally, there will be a vintage car and bike rally, a heritage quiz, a photography competition and discussions on music, film, history and literature featuring experts,” he said.
Singh said that performances will showcase many folk and classical art forms from across India and neighboring countries, including Chholiya and other folk dances and the folk music and dances of Gujarat, Goa, Sri Lanka, Kyrgyzstan and Belarus. Singh further stated that this year’s Virasat event is dedicated to the theme of world peace.
