November 2025 I Nainital, Uttarakhand
HIMALAYAN ECHOES
2025
Programme 2025
DAY 1 - 1.11.2025
SESSION - Opens with Conch blowing
10:15 am - 10:20 am
WELCOME ADDRESS
WELCOME ADDRESS BY FESTIVAL FOUNDER
Janhavi Prasada
10:20 am - 10:35 am
KEYNOTE ADDRESS
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
Dr. Alka Pande
10:36 am - 10:38 am
INTRODUCTION BY PRESENTING SPONSOR
Ayu Tripathi, MD Ahaana Forest Resort
10:40 am - 11:00 am
SESSION 1
HIMALAYAN MELODIES: Leki Tshewang
Leki Tshewang is a noted singer with the Traditional Performing Arts and Music Division, Royal Academy of Performing Arts, Bhutan. He brings us the rich musical heritage of his homeland Bhutan and also shares his interpretation of popular music from Uttarakhand and the rest of India.
SESSION 2
11:05 am - 11:35 am
CALLED BY THE HILLS
Anuradha Roy in conversation with Aditi Singh
SESSION 3
11:40 am - 12:10 pm
THE WILD UP CLOSE
Neha Sinha & Gargi Rawat in coversation
SESSION 4
12:15 pm - 12:50 pm
THE PHANTOM'S HOWL: CLASSIC TALES OF GHOSTS AND HAUNTINGS FROM BENGAL BY ARUNDHATI NATH
Arundhati Nath In conversation with
BOOK LAUNCH
WHERE THE DEODARS STAND: NAINITAL STORIES BY JANHAVI PRASADA
SESSION 5
12:55 pm - 1:25 pm
NEPAL 2043 : The Road to Prosperity
Sujeev Shakhya in conversation with Navroze Dhondy
SESSION 6
1:30 pm - 2:00 pm
SHAPING LANDSCAPES IN THE HIMALAYAS
Rahul Bhushan and Shagun Singh in conversation
2:00 pm onwards
LUNCH
FESTIVAL CLOSED FOR THE DAY
3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
TEA (Dining Room)
EVENING
6:15 pm - 7:30 pm
MITAHARA: Food Wisdom From My Indian Kitchen
Rujuta Diwekar in conversation with Kavita Khosa
7:30 pm
Sufi Music Performance By Rehmat-e-Nusrat
8:30 pm
Dinner at Hotel Arif Castle
DAY 2 - 2.11.2025
10:30 am - 11:00 am
SESSION 1
SHAKTI: 51 SHAKTI PEETHAS OF INDIA
Alka Pande in conversation with Shailaja Khanna
11:05 am - 11:35 am
SESSION 2
NALANDA : HOW IT CHANGED THE WORLD
Abhay K In Conversation with Uday Singh
11:40 am - 12:10 pm
SESSION 3
READING NATURE, WRITING NATURE
Stephen Alter in conversation with Vikram Berry
BOOK LAUNCH
PUGMARKS & PUGDUNDEES #NAINITALDIARIES BY SHIVESHWAR RAJ SINGH
Book Launch By Stephen Alter
12:15 pm -12:45 pm
SESSION 4
UMARAO JAAN: A REMNISCENCE
Muzaffar Ali
12:50 pm - 1.20 pm
SESSION 5
THE NATURE OF NATURE
Iconic Vandana Shiva in conversation with the masterful Pinki Anand
1:25 pm - 1.55 pm
SESSION 6
WEAVING FASHION ENTREPRENEURS IN KUMAON
Meera Juneja & Kiran Sandhu bring to the forefront Himalayan textile & craft
2:00 pm onwards
LUNCH
FESTIVAL CLOSED FOR THE DAY
3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
TEA (Dining Room)
EVENING
7:30 pm
Closing Dinner at Hotel Shervani
Music Performance By King Cole
