Deshaj Darshan Mahotsav was organized by Shrikrishnayan Samiti and Paryatan Vikas Welfare Society in association Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board on the occasion of National Tourism Day. The event was held on 22nd and 23rd January 2025 with the aim to showcase and promote the indigenous culture of Gwalior-Chambal division through rural tourism program and a dialogue session. The 22nd January event named Deshaj Darshan Mohatsav held in Adarsh Gaushala of Gwalior where as 23rd January, a Deshaj Darshan Samvaad Satra held in the Tourism department (Paryatan Bhawan Seminar Hall) of Jiwaji University, Gwalior.
Adarsh Gaushala, also known as Lal Tipara Gaushala, is situated in the Morar suburb of Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. Recognized by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of the state, this gaushala stands as a prime example of Kamdhenu Tourism (Cow Tourism) and Deshaj Darshan Cultural Activities. In recent years, it has gained significant attention for its innovative Bio-CNG Plant, making it one of the pioneering initiatives in India where cow dung is utilized to produce CNG. These initiatives propel the gaushala towards achieving cultural sustainability, ecological sustainability, and economic sustainability.
Deshaj Darshan Mahotsav was held in Adarsh Gaushala of Gwalior. Madhya Pradesh. Rural Tourism Festival on the theme Deshaj Darshan is the fourth edition of Tourism Festival held in Gaushala on the same dates followed by the year 2022, 2023 and 2024. Deshaj Darshan Mahotsav 2025 comprises of four activities including Gramotsav (Rural Tourism Festival), Ramotsav (celebration of Lord Rama Temple), Vivahotsav (demonstration of Destination wedding on the theme Vaidik Vivaah) and Anandotsav (To highlight the rural life and its ingredients of happiness through village games and products). The whole event was under the umbrella of zero waste and environmental consciousness.
Highlights of the event
The event starts with Gaupoojan, then a walk tour of campus, to show the cultural and indigenous decoration that highlights the rural lifestyle and plastic free and zero waste event.
Ramotsav: A beginning of the program dedicated to Lord Rama, where a beautifully section adorned as a temple. Guests collectively performed the Aarti of Lord Ram, marking the auspicious first year of Lord Rama’s Prana Pratishtha in Ayodhya. To honor Ramotsav, a symbolic bow (Dhanush) was crafted using recycled iron, jute, and flowers. A miniature temple of Lord Ram was sculpted from gobar i.e. cow dung, with its surroundings artistically painted with sacred shlokas, fostering a sense of spiritual and cultural pride. These creative installations showcased the richness of our heritage through a sustainable lens. All activities, including the floral and leafy decorations, were brought to life by folk artists performing live.
Vivahotsav: A destination wedding in Gaushala on the theme ‘Vaidik Vivaah’ demonstrated to highlight the richness of Indian culture, with 11 Brahmins chanting sacred mantras at the auspicious mahurat of 12 noon. The wedding mandap, crafted from bamboo, was elegantly adorned with fresh flowers, sarees, and traditional paintings, all surrounded by intricate banana leaf decorations. Every aspect of the setup emphasized eco-friendliness and tradition, as no synthetic banners or decorations were used, allowing each element to narrate a unique cultural story.
Gramotsav: The Rural Festival, or Rural Tourism Festival, featured an enchanting setup where the entire ground was adorned with traditional elements such as parali (agricultural residue), straw, hay, and other biodegradable materials. A dedicated rural-themed pavilion was established to attract tourists by showcasing the rural lifestyle, sustainability, and its rich cultural heritage. Volunteers, guided by expert mentors, constructed installations like scarecrows, an artificial well, a traditional bullock cart, a hut, a selfie point, and more.
The venue itself was a visual masterpiece. Students contributed by painting vibrant murals on the stage backdrop, eliminating the need for banners. The front area of the stage was beautifully embellished with Warli art, connecting the audience to the festival’s essence. Guest seating was equally creative, featuring sofas made from straw and grasses, decorated with jute and repurposed cane shields. This inspiring ‘waste-to-art’ initiative brought cultural creativity to life while upholding eco-friendly practices and minimizing environmental impact.
More than seven folk performances were presented by local artisans, showcasing the richness of Deshaj, or indigenous art forms. The performances included a variety of genres such as solo songs, group songs, solo dances, and group dances. Additionally, the event featured a classical instrumental performance by professionally trained artists, adding a touch of traditional elegance to the cultural showcase.
Anandotsav: As part of the event’s effort to promote indigenous games, students and athletes performed an impressive Mallakhamb demonstration. Over 10 stalls were set up to showcase and promote local products, with the majority managed by Self-Help Groups (SHGs). The entire campus was transformed with folk-themed decorations, thoughtfully created without a single piece of plastic, reflecting a strong commitment to sustainability.
Speech by Special Guests of the program:
1. Padmashree Kanwal Singh Chauhan, Haryana
2. Padmashree Satyendra Singh Lohia, Bhind
3. Padmashree Jena Bhai Patel, Gujarat
4. Baba Harjeet Singh, Rasoolpur, Punjab
5. Shri Aman Vaishnav, IAS (CEO, Gwalior Municipal Corporation)
6. Shri Arvind Kumar Saxena, IPS (IG)
7. Prof Avinash Tiwari (Vice Chancellor, Jiwaji University)
8. Prof. R.S. Tomar (Vice Chancellor, AMITY University, Gwalior)
9. Prof. R.J. Rao (former Vice Chancellor, Barkatulla University, Bhopal)
10. Prof. Alok Sharma (Director, IITTM)
11. Dr. Pragya Singh (Director, VISM, Gwalior)
12. Shri Brij Bhushan Markandey Pandey (Renowned content developer, Lucknow
More than 800 participants from across the country participated in the event. It includes Padma Shree awardees, civil services officers, Vice chancellors, Principals, Academicians, Research Scholars, NGOs, corporate, rural and agriculture experts, doctors, engineers, ex-armymen, IT experts, students, tourism stakeholders, hospitality experts, government officials, and the representatives of all sectors of the society.
The event took a sustainable approach, using reusable steel plates and glasses, and recyclable paper table covers to minimize waste. Waste was sorted for composting and recycling, showing how celebrations can be eco-friendly and sustainable.
This event set a benchmark in environmental responsibility which resembles the Indian lifestyle i.e rural life. With reduced electricity usage, reliance on natural decorations, and zero plastic waste, it exemplified how grand celebrations can coexist with sustainability.
STALLS
VOLUNTEERS: Students of IITTM, Gwalior, Prestige Institute of Management Research, Jiwaji University, Raja Mansingh Tomar Music and Art University, Government Fine Art College, Gwalior, etc. have volunteered us sincerely to make this event successful.
PROGRAM PARTNER: Madhya Pradesh Government, Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board, Municipal Corporation of Gwalior, Sanchi Dairy, Rajya Anand Vibhag and Indian Oil Corporation Limited.
KNOWLEDGE PARTNER: Jiwaji University, Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia Agriculture University, Vikrant University, Amity University, IITTM, and Prestige Institute of Management Research.
SUPPORTING ORGANISATIONS: Tourism India Alliance, ADTOI, Unnat Bharat Abhiyan, Scalability, AVARD, AIMA, Gwalior Management Association, Gau Samagra, Sorted Square, Swadeshi Store, Madhya Pradesh Khadi Gramodyog, etc.
Glimpses of the event:
Extraordinary, Exquisite, Enriching and Empowering India at grassroot level. Adbhuth Mahotsav. Hats off to the vision of the team to integrate India and esp Rural India and celebrate it requires utmost dedication and conviction. Spread it across India and Contextualize the local traditions, culture and festivals and make it a case study to unite India at Grameen Level and make it mandatory to involve urban youth in these activities
Bharat Mata Ki Jai 🙏🇮🇳
Intersting
Great